dies once...and only once.

[Spitfire1975]

So after studying the schematics for a while (new at this, they can get confusing if you don't know what you are doing!) and tracing the wires around I think I found the problem!

Problem #1:
I need to get better at double checking myself when I think I have checked something. It appears that power has been flowing correctly the whole time, I just didn't test thoroughly enough. The coil has power under no start conditions.

Problem #2:
The coil is bad. It didn't start yesterday, I got a good power read....but no spark. Changed the coil and it fired right up.

Problem #3:
The guy before me overfilled the power steering pump on numerous occasions because of a leaking cap. Oil was spraying all over the coil and drivers side wiring harness, shorting things out. It happened again after I put the other coil in and it died just like before. Cleaned up the oil and it fired right back up.

So, I will fix the cap, replace the coil with a new one and keep my fingers crossed that the problem is solved.

Thanks again to everyone who helped.

 

[Spitfire1975]

Oooops. Forgot to update this. Coil issues were just coincidental. The problem ended up being the distributor stator/pickup. Spent $18 and about a half hour to change it and the problem has not reappeared.