theres also a cat on each side of the Y pipe just below the O2 sensors.

 

I don't think the pre-1990 (maybe any) 2.9L had those cats or the separate left and right bank upstream O2 sensors. Mine doesn't, and Rock Auto lists the same part for '88 and '89 cats. Two in-line cats, different types I believe, after the Y-pipe union. This was Gen 1 EEC-IV. Kinda primative by EEC-V standards, but better than a smog-choked carb and pretty easy to work on.
Still, one side of the Y-pipe or an exhaust manifold could be carboned-up if he had a cylinder with no spark, pumping fuel into the manifold.

 

no, it was glowing on both sides but I've been working on it so here's the update:

After seeing the cats were gutted (2 inline after the y pipe) I was set on replacing the distributor. Now I get an initial spark when the key turns to accessories and never after that.i swapped back to the original TFI module and I'm getting the same result. It's one thing after another