Help - I'm almost giving up! Won't start.

I'm close to giving up. My 67 Barracuda Convertible won't start. Now maybe I should be asking help in the ignition section but when I explain, I think I should be here. I'd be happy to move to the ignition section if someone advises me to.

History: I built my Barracuda between 2001 and 2005. It was originally a 273, 2 barrel, automatic with 120,000 miles. One owner, only rust was 1"x3" in left qtr. Disassembled and stripped to a bare body. Repainted. New Mopar 360 crate motor. Converted to TKO 600 5 speed. 8 3/4, 3:55 posi. 74 K-frame. Large bolt pattern. New wiring harness. Mopar electronic ignition which came with crate motor. A/C dash, evaporator, and other related parts from a 68 Dart. A/C never completed during build. Couldn't find the wire that attaches to the compressor. I think it's suppose to be blue???? Not sure.

When built, it would start instantly. Ran strong with terrific throttle response. Went to the strip once. Made three passes. Best of 13.6 at 101 on Michelin tires. Was invited into the main building at the Mopar Nationals at Carlisle. And was the centerfold car in Mopar Action Magazine, April of 2006.

Then in 2007, something happened one evening. Went to start it at a car show. It cranked, and cranked but would not fire. Very embarrassing! Finally it fired. Seemed to fire when I was turning the ignition switch back to the "ON" position from the "Start" position. From that time till 8 months ago I lived with it not easily starting. 9 times out of 10 it would never start if I just held the key in the start position. It would just continue to crank and not fire. I learned to just hold the key on the start position for maybe 2 to 3 seconds and as I would move the key to "ON" position, many times it would then fire. Almost seemed like it would fire not in the "Start" position but as the engine still had cranking momentum as the key was moved to the "ON" position.

Additionally, while all this was happening, I learned that if I pushed the A/C button on the dash, or the DEFROST button, the engine would immediately stop and would not refire unless I pushed the OFF button or the HEAT button. Almost made a great anti theft device. Ha!

8 months ago, I got tired of living with it like this and it was still embarrassing. I installed a new four prong ballast resistor and a new ignition switch. BAM! It seemed to start perfectly, just like it should. It must have started 10 times perfectly. While it was running I pushed the A/C button and it kept running. I pushed the DEFROST button and it continued to run perfectly. Then I moved the heater lever to the right (WARM) and BOOM! It stopped running. I moved the heater lever back and tried to start it. Again it would crank but wouldn't fire. I installed another new ballast resistor. No difference. I spent another hour on it and nothing.

I was fed up. I haven't touched it now in 8 months. If anyone can recommend a REALLY GOOD MOPAR SPECIALIST within a couple hundred miles of Atlanta, I'll trailer it there and get this fixed. I'm so tired.

I want it to start normally and then figure out how to get the HVAC to work properly.

Are there any suggestions? I've always loved the expertise on this forum. I'm hoping someone can help!?

Many thanks, Frank