"I found a rodent nest behind the alternater on the intake manifold, and a medium sized chinchilla sitting on top of the huffer looking at me."
'Spark scatter', would explain your surging or hesitation. It is caused by applying high voltage from the coils, to weak or chewed up wires, or worn out plugs. Electrical current will travel the source of least resistance. In auto engines, that "least resistance" is the nearest ground!
I have heard that chinchilla's like to chew on wires, could that have caused your wires to disintegrate? Anyway, you need to install some wires that have d-con embedded in them!
