... Consider a problem in the cam drive; broken gear tooth...
I considered pulling the front/timing cover off before the head, to try to find the problem... havent ruled it out being a cam drive gear... Decided to rule something related to the head, or that I would be able to see once the head was off, since rotation of the distributor didnt seem to be slipping... I presume if a tooth on the cam gear has broken off, that I'd see that as a pause in the rotaion of the distributor?
I've got a lot to do to figger this out, that's clear. Should get some time this weekend to get at least some answers...
Thanks everybody!
Keith