'88 t/a gta- 358" accel proram, dfi, msd computer controlled dist.

right now i have timing set at around the recommended 6 degrees and the car will start up and seems to want to sorta run alright. but only with the est bypass disconnected.
if i hook it up, the thing just sits there and cranks... never tries to start at all.
i have traced both the est wire and the bypass wire all the way from the computer pins to the distributor. they are hooked up correctly. the distributor is a brand new (i think) msd billet drop in distributor for a tpi car. im also running an msd 6al and msd blaster 2 coil.
any ideas?
jeremy