when i posted op, i was purchasing a capri with this symptom for $750.
i replaced the idle air control from another AT n/a.
and it appears to have resolved the problem where the car would stutter/stall under load after it would warm-up.
in addition i replaced the distro cap, distro rotor, plugs wires (those were a terrible mess), thermostat, FIXED LOOSE POSITIVE CONNECTION ON THE BATTERY, and that's about it.
next is to change fluids.
tomorrow i have hours of driving, so i'll drive this to see if i get another CEL or other problems.