my nightmere (msd)

Matt I don't think bypassing the ballast resistor would burn up the MSD box because my old Dakota didn't use a ballast resistor and it wasn't a problem with the MSD6A on it. Since your new MSD box did the same thing chances are your old one is good and the problem is elsewhere.

I'm sorry but I can't be much more help since I don't have a wiring diagram to go by but the only thing I can think of that you mentioned that I would question is you said your ground is grounded to a bolt going into the floorboard of the car. This isn't always the best place to ground something due to paint and/or corrosion causing a bad connection. Maybe check that good. Also is your ground wire from the back of the engine block to the firewall in place? If that is missing that may be the problem since your grounded to the floor and not the engine block.