It was the coil after all.

Lessons learned: Don't trust chain auto parts stores to test your electronics. I went to 2 different stores and asked to see a new coil so I could test it. NO good, either one. Decided to go to NAPA and throw my money down ($20) like a red/black bet on the roulette wheel. I won. And it tested as it should have according to the manuals no matter what others said.

So it runs now? (keeping fingers crossed)