My 88 GL continues to vex me.  However - MAYBE I have gotten to the
nitty gritty of it.

Came out of Wally World - key in - grind, grind,grind - no start.

Jumped out and opened the hatch - intent on testing. Pulled the
distributor wire - HMMMM - that didn't seem to have a good grip. Put it
back on - pulled it off. Nope - not tight. Put back on - engine started
right up. Let it idle while I ran back to close up. Before I could get
into the set - the engine dies.

Key in, ignition on - Grind, grind,grind. Will not start. Check the
distributor wire again, this time pushing it on the pin at right angles
to where was before. Vrooooom - started right up.

Drove home.

It would seem that a new coil/distributor  wire would be in order. That
will I hope fix this problem once and for all.

John