Thanks to everyone--I appreciate the suggestions.

What I don't get is the gradual worsening of the starting situation over a
week's time.   Evan's right, it may have nothing to do with the fuel system
changes I made--could be coincidental. I suspected the distributor wiring as
the wires were totally bare where they  come out of the distributor base,
and they'll obviously need to be fixed right. But having wrapped them with
tape to no effect, I'm looking elsewhere. Also, the tach does move when
turning the starter motor. Next step is getting hold of a pressure meter,
maybe the Home Depot model, and checking fuel pressure.

There are so many failure points on these aging vehicles, and that coupled
with the fact that so many of us take them on long trips into the middle of
nowhere makes you stop and think.

Nine months ago I was on the top of a mountain, 7,000 feet high, alone with
my daughter, when it began to snow. What if the fuel pump had decided to go
then? We might have ended up like the Kims...

...and one more thing...it's amazing how emotionally wrapped up you get in
these things, in spite of the fact that your head is telling you it's a
totally logical series of interconnected systems. I feel lousy when the
Westy's feelin' lousy. Hard to remember it's just a bunch of glass and steel
and rubber and whatnot...anybody else go through this?

thanks again, I'll keep y'all posted

Geza