Evenin' folks....soo... by way of an update his is what's going on:
1. replaced The Two Troublesome Tantalums (c58 and c56)
2. replaced that variable ceramic cap
3. Re-applied power. SUCCESS!!
4. Added cards in one-by-one:
CGA card (running through composite, 40 lines)
Keyboard
AST Six Pak
HD controller
Floppy controller
5. As I added cards I got more errors. I also believe my PS2->XT converter keyboard is not gonna cut it. Here's the current list
301 - keyboard (same error with or without keyboard attached)
20000 201 - memory problem at 20000
1701 some general HDD or Controller problem
601 Floppy (well in fairness the floppy isn't even there)
6. I just received my ISA Cirrus Logic VGA card from ebay and interestingly IT WORKS - but only if I configure the switches for MDA, not VGA. Weird huh?
Special note: I believe my final step to add floppy drive caused a sharp, burning component smell. I immediately powered down, but despite frantic sniffing I couldn't locate the source.
Anyway, HDD and Floppy seem to be toast right now. And the keyboard. Oh, and memory location 20000..... apart from that we doing great!
cheers! Andy