Yet another small step...

Installed a new distributor cap over the weekend, along with a new intake manifold gasket.  I had installed a new one (gasket) when the head went in, but I had removed the manifold once afterwards and a friend suggested that this might cause a vacuum leak. The new one doesn't seem to make a difference though, leading me to think that the gasket wasn't (at least not completely) an issue...

One thing I remember from this ordeal?  It brought me as close to throwing things as I have been in a *long* time.  Lesson learned:  DO NOT attempt to remove and install the intake manifold without removing the surrounding coolant hoses.  It can be done, but believe me, you don't want that kind of "convenience".

But, at the end of a very tiring three-and-a-half hours, it's back on with a new gasket.  I started the car up just for a sanity check, started fine.   No improvement in the running though, still sputters if you blip the throttle from idle, regardless of hot or cold engine (well, more when cold).

While I was in there, I took the Mass Air Flow Sensor off to make sure it has smooth travel and is clean, that was the case. Looks like I'm running out of cheap fixes for this, I'm gonna have to break down and start looking at the fuel injectors and the MAF sensor next... Also want to reset the DME (Digital Motor Electronics, basically the central engine control unit) trouble codes and run it for a week, see what codes I get... Watch for further news!