SOLVED!....sort of. Where's there's spark.. there's no fire!

IMHO
IMHO
IMHO
The HEI was one of the finest ignitions if them all and I have owned everything from Ford to Toyota To Mazda

45,000 volts is nothing to sneeze at. It is 1000000000000000000000000 times as important to make sure the mechanical and advance curves are EXACTLY factory spec. Getting the spark to the plugs is critical. I like JACOBS wires because they don't leak. On a pitch black night open your hood start your engine let your eyes adjust then look for tiny yellow sparks between wires or to engine.