The ECM does not cause ignition events. The ECM only monitors when the events happen and adjusts the timing of the events. If you have no spark at all your ignition module is most likely at fault.
IM is new, along with pickup coil (whole distributor), coil, cap, rotor, column switch, and coil wire.
You can't bypass any of that stuff with a carb. HEI is HEI, regardless if the ECM controls timing or not. All the tests that I'm aware of for ignition (coil, pickup, module) are the same whether carbed HEI or EFI.
Wiring issues are wiring issues. Plenty of people have problems with carbs too (Q-jet thread today for instance!) they are not the solution to, well, anything.
You can bypass that stuff up to the point of the dizzy its self. Half of its IN the dizzy but you can run a large cap HEI with carb and run 1 wire to it bypassing the entire wiring harness.... like nearly every carbed buggy on here. I've personally done it a few times before. My wiring harness Almost has to be the culprit.
Cant run the small cap tbi dizzy like that that I know of
And as for tuning and drivability, I'd take it over the bridge by my house about 2 miles to a local speed shop that I've been going to for years and give the dude $75 bucks and pick it up when done.... I've had this thing 4 years almost and only put about 4 or 5 thousand miles on it. It never sees rocks or any super steep grades. Its just a play truck that needs neither MPG or easy cold starts.
I know you guys are trying to help on it and give me advise, I'm not bashing it. I'm very grateful that I'm getting replies and info. But I'm not new to engines or electrical either. changed my first engine without dad around at 15 with a buddy, and been an industrial electrician for 17 years. currently I'm trusted by a major chemical plant to be the sole electrician on site on nights and weekends
As for the ECM I was changing that next due to multiple people on here telling me to try it. If it can change anything about the spark (timing) it can prevent it from happening too. the only way for it to affect timing is to tell it when to spark. So it would seem to me that the pick up tells the ecm where the motor is in its cycle, then the ecm decides if it should send the signal to spark a few milliseconds later or more immediate based on other info it has calculated. Meaning that if that circuit is flawed it could conceivably NOT tell it to spark at all. Its a LONG shot I know.... But I'm running out of patience and ideas with all the unneeded circuitry and electronics involved with the FI
Most of the things you've mentioned have been covered in my build thread already, and I know that's not where this is. Sorry for that mis communication. Im grateful for the help and will keep plugging away at it I guess. I do this stuff too much at work to be willing to tear into the harness at home.
Sorry if I've came across in a bad way. Not intended if that's how its percieved
If I carb it I can bypass all that crap though. Ive replaced it all already and that's not changing anything...... Im not digging through the harness trying to find a broken wire. I'll run from the battery directly to the column switch and out to turn the coil/dizzy on that way with a carb. I have one wire plug thing to change that everyone says is available but I cant find. (IM to coil) beyond that 
at the local U pullit
probably cheaper than shipping. with as little as I actually drive it i'd like to go the easiest route.... but the other route just looks enticing lol. just tried playin with it a bit ago but its been a month since I started it and it kinda has a dead batt
