So I thought It was old distributor caps/rotors, but after installing new rotors and caps, The problem was still there- 15-20 seconds before starting, then a very sluggish idle, alternating between firing on all eight, then dropping off and sounding like it's hitting on only four, then three, then six, then back to eight, accompanied by a strong smell of unburned gasoline. This came on one morning as I was accelerating briskly between stop signs. I've not done anything else than replace caps/rotors.

Could it be an old fuel pump/ clogged filter? Or someting more sinister?