so yeah, we go the distributor out and apart and was looking at it and the inside was kinda oily and the hall sensor was all bent outa shape. literaly. and; being the goof off i am, i gave the old distrip and the "new" one my dad picked up from a u-pull-it a spin and found the old one from my car to be quite worn and smooth to rotate.
so we pollished the "new" one up, put a brand new cap and rotor on it and figured out the hard way that the cap goes on before you replace the distributore back in its happy little place. adjusted the timing and drove it to work that day.

and the gunshow and college bible study the next, work the day after, to the college and my grand parents house yesterday and to work later to day. G-parents house again and work tomorrow.

and i have you good folk here at the brickboard to thank for pointing us in the right direction and saving us from Lord-knows-how-long of guessing and checking and spending lots-a monies. clearly you are my mental and mechanical supperiors; and i am indebted to you.(bows slightly and raises hat)

thank you once again for ending my suffering and embarasment of having to drive my mom's peugot 505 wagon and my dad's saab 9000t around.