Head Scratcher

[Hotrod1952]

95 c1500 170K miles. Just bought it as a project. Was told it used some oil...
Drove it for about a month. When oil on full line 1 qt to 100 miles or so. Ran perfect. Developed EGR code. Upon inspection EGR passages in the intake plugged. Removed valve covers and intake. Found many years of varnish. So bad it plugged all the oil return holes in the heads. Thinking "that was easy". Installed the intake turned engine over to TDC #1 dropped distributor in. Hooked everything up - started - ran bad (did not have it timed - did not know about timing bypass wire) for like 45 secs to 1 minute and died. Can not get to start. rechecked timing - verify spark - had none. Pulled distributor again installed a rebuilt one.(after inspection bushings were loose) Rebuilt came with new ignition module and pick-up coil. Got spark - only it's jumping around. Found out about timing wire by glove box. Disconnected it. Timing light flashes at 0 degrees now. Back fire in the throttle body. pull valve cover verify pushrods are down valves up. yep. Checked fuel pressure. 13-14PSI. Put new pressure regulator diaphram in Throttle body. Rechecked still 13psi. Timing light flashes at tdc. Spark plug tester shows spark. So far I have replaced Coolant temp sender by t-stat, unplugged knock sensor(got code43 now), new egr, checked TPS tested good.(Ordered one anyway). Installed another map sensor (used). Plugs will be in tommorow. What gives? What am I missing? Wires look good. It ran on them before fine.