First, you should set the base idle and mixture on the K-jet. Not hard if you have a Bentley and a dwell meter. Hmmm, maybe not? On k-jet, you almost have to do that before messing with anything. If the tailgate wiper fuse is OK, look at the wires in the gate hinges for damage. I think you are right to doubt a sudden motor death from paint fumes. There are different latches for the different types of hoods. Is it possible you have one from a beaked hood installed on your old-type flattened hood? Hood latches are not obscure, almost all cars have them, including the ones in junk yards.