D^2, Thanks for the note back. This happened very late at night and in a place I didn't want to do much diagnosing in so I left that for today. However, I could tell that the cranking of the motor didn't sound like it should, varying in rhythm, and all things considered, ie new ignition parts, no smell of raw fuel, no sputtering as if fuel starved, and a willing to crank motor but off key in rhythm, the timing gear set was a logical direction. Today's diagnostics have so far confirmed this theory. The distributor rotor spins ok part of the way, the other part of the radius has a ratcheting motion as if the chain was skipping. Electronic ignition was optional in the '72 Chrysler Newport/NewYorker, std on Imp, my Newport has this option for 1972. Off to the parts house. Eric