Well problem after problem - I THINK has been resolved... but I'm not counting my chickens just yet until I get a few days worth of reliable driving.
Finally had someone with some mechanical knowledge look under the hood (YAY for mechanic friends!)
several problems found while going through the engine bay:
1. (probably the major one) still not getting enough fuel! despite installing an electric fuel pump, I wired it up all professionally to the ignition, the pump wasn't getting enough power and hence, engine/carby not getting enough fuel.
to test this, connected positive straight to the battery and the fuel pump came to life clunking and pumping away a lot louder. suction and fuel delivery are now good.
2. spark from coil was also a problem. swapped over with a spare coil, but to no avail.
turned out that the wire from the condensor and the wire to the points were old and oily and generally not getting a good connection/earth.
that was all cleaned up with some oil & grease remover and put back together.
3. also turns out when I bought the new dizzy cap I put it on 180deg the wrong way, so it wasn't seated properly. FAIL.
turned that around so the dizzy cap had a nice tight seal again and the rotor can make nice clean connections.
took a bit of trouble shooting, but seems to have got it running good now at least at idle and with a bit of revvs. Havent had a chance to take it for a test lap just yet.
theres a bit of blockage is the carby jets which can sometimes cause a very fine miss... but not really enough to worry about at the moment.
now to tidy it all up and put the car back together for a test drive!!
:dance:
Damo