problem solved

bad coil. go figure. wonder if it runs the injectors too........ must have stopped running the plugs and just fired the injectors; which flooded the muffler and cylinders....... and caused the caboom. i donno, but its running now

so you can have 'spark' and have a bad coil
but ya, new coil and she's running good; even got the muffler warrantied;

huzzah!
thanks for all the help and ideas everyone; greatly appreciated.