[Jack E/NJ]

>>>[timing] light fluttered consistent with the missing sparks in cylinders 3, 6, 7, & 8. >>>
>>>timing light both fired consistently without any misses at all [from coil]>>>>

>>>Switching wires is, indeed, all there is left to do. Unfortunately, I don't have the crab cap that would make that so easy. >>>


Pull only one plug wire out of the cap. Start with #3. Then insert a short piece of known good plug wire into the cap that can reach a ground to make a spark. Start the car with 7 cylinders connected to the distributor. Does the spark from the short wire to ground seem steady or not? Use a timing light if you can't tell how steady it is. Do the same with 6, 7 & 8 one at a time.


This should rule out or rule in the plug wires. It should also tell you if the problem is further upstream particularly the cap & rotor.You've already tested that the coil output seems steady. So it's gotta be in the spark distribution system rather than spark creation system.