Good point on timing and I should have included that. 12 degrees initial with 36 degrees total. The second distributor I tried was set up on a distributor machine and looked/behaved good.
I forgot to include that voltage to the coil looks good and I tried a new coil. Also unhooked my tach thinking the tach might be grounded out the ignition or something - it's got me kind of stumped.
I have a stock HEI (external coil) kicking around I could try but it's pretty crusty and would take some parts ($) to get it ready.
When you had the dist set-up/dialed in on the machine Did they change the module in it. Because the stock ones are only good for about 4000-4500rpm then they start to fall off. But I have had many go good to around 5000. But I still think you have a fuel issue If the plugs are as lean as you say.
God doesn't like ugly.
