Benzmac,Steve:
Thanks for the input and cautions. I had
my mechanic check and adjust the fuel mixture last
monday so that is in spec. It is now back to "normal", no damage done, but I now have my original lean miss problem.

So, since the "lean miss" problem "seems" to go away or masked with either the 02 sensor removed or with the 02 sensor connected and providing VERY rich fuel mixture, what could be at fault here?

my mechanic seems to think the fuel distributor
is the next likely cause. does this seem
reasonable?

thanks again for all the help, comments, and
input!!!