Thought I'd better get back with the Rest Of The Story. 

Neighbor has a '68 Pontiac Lemans.   They stopped by and he asked what was wrong with the '55.  I put the cover back on the head and eventually got it started.  (Kicked but then was flooded.  Held the accelerator down and it started, but ran like crap)  Still making the noise.  Hem hawed around a while and then noticed a tiny blue spark.  One of the spark plug wires had come off.  Are you kidding me?  Killed the engine and stuck it back on there and all is well with the world.  How it ever just came off - as I haven't done anything wrenching on that side - I'll never know.  All I can think is maybe last time the oil was changed it got bumped putting the cover back on.   Anyway - crisis averted. 

And thanks all who contributed.

KISS principle applies to cars more than anything. You have to start at the basics, air, fuel and spark. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire