UPDATE: Fix one thing, another breaks... STORY TIME!

[Gas Pumper]

UPDATED: See Post #21. Story time... ('81 360 w/ Edel Performer Intake and Edel 1406 Carb / TF727)

When I bought my waggy, it made this horrible noise from the front of the engine. It made a grinding noise, and after poking around for a bit, I figured it was either the power steering pump or water pump...
The other day I'm driving home and the engine temp gauge is going up rather quickly. I'm almost home so I continue driving. Right as I'm pulling down my street, the engine starts to sputter and "miss." I park it for a few weeks figuring that the water pump was toast and was starting to seize, causing the sputter.

So, today I get around to replacing the water pump. It was pretty easy, except the power steering pump bracket coming off that one stud. Halfway through the tear down, I find that there was excessive play in the pump (talking 1/8" movement no matter where I tug!). So, I replaced the pump, belts and even ripped out the disfunctional AIR pump while I was in there.

I get it all put back together and take it for a test drive. Once the engine warmed up, it started to sputter again. At first, I thought it was my transmission because I have a knack for transmission problems. Check the fluid, which was a little low, and drove again. I started to go up a medium grade hill and within 30 feet, the engine died. I thought I flooded it. It just would not start. I let it sit for about 20 minutes and tried starting it, which it wouldn't. I finally got it to start after about 20 seconds of cranking and giving it gas (about 50% throttle). I put it in gear and it felt like it was only running on 5 cyclinders, it was horrible. This only seems to be happening if there is any load on the engine at all. I limped it home and now here I sit typing. I didn't touch the carb the whole time I worked on the pump and it was fine before, so I dunno.

Short story / Symptoms: Engine sputters or dies when under load. Hard to restart after the last time it died (flooded?). Spewed out a bunch of black stuff all over the ground when I started it cold. I did get rid of the really bad grinding noise though.

Anyone has any ideas? My father-in-law suspects a coil going out?