the thing with the resistor > what happened is the exact symptoms of a bad resistor [open circuit], it starts, but dies when you let off starter - I'd think you must have done a poor job of putting the wires on 1 terminal, because that should be the same as attaching them all together, thus bypassing the resistor - the other thing you could do is just put a jumper wire across the resistor terminals, but if they say to not use it, you should not use it
also note that the 283 is an engine that likes revs [one of its finer points!], stumbling at lower rpm when you try to accelerate isn't suprising, especially if your accelerator pump isn't 100% .... and yes, that loose coil wire could have caused misfiring, at start or running, a bad connection can increase resistance, decrease voltage
Bill
