JimF - your info is normally impeccable - but I think your engine layout here is backwards on the driver's side. In other words I think cylinder 5 is opposite 1 and cylinder 8 is opposite 4, like so:

4 8
3 7
2 6
1 5
front

Anyway I changed my spark plug wires today and that's what I concluded, and the car started right up. Just thought I'd post this for posteritys sake.