[tbirdtbird]

at least you have your problem narrowed down. Keep at it. Henry didn't provide much room in those dizzies. Lots of places to short stuff out. everything must be just right.
Tom, I have seen what you described many times....such as oil from fingertips contaminating new points, etc. Those point contacts must be really clean. Condensers are always suspect, always keep one or two spares.

I drove my original '28 Chevy into my car trailer one day and it would not start the next due to a thin film of corrosion overnight that of course was not visible. But that was in the very humid northeast. No probs like that in Texas.

If you have that experience with earlier cars you should be able to figure it out.