1990 Z71 Won't Start

Hello to all I'm a newbie... while my daily driver is a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer 4x4 I've done very little work on Chevy's. Most of my wrenching turn has been done on air-cooled VW's, my 65 Stang and antique tractors. However, I recently purchsed a 1990 Silverado Z71 (350/4spd auto). The truck had set for some time before I bought it, however after a little work I had it running. I drove it around my place for a few days fine, no problems. Then I was driving it one evening and I stopped and began to put it reverse immediately the engine died, and wouldn't start again. I thought that I'd run out of gas or something so I put five gallons in it and she would still turn over but not start. I called my friend who has a tractor to pull me back to the house. I hooked the truck up, put it in neutral and pulled it about 30 feet and I tried it one more time and it cranked right up. Several days later I went out to drive it cranked it up backed up to the shop to pump the tires up. While pumping the tires up I let it sit in Park with the engine idling pretty as you please for about 5 minutes. I got back in the truck and put it in reverse and it died. I've pushed it about 30 feet in nuetral like I did last time just to see it I could get something but I got nothing. So I pulled a plug and I'm not getting any fire. So I replaced the control module in the distributor. Still no fire when I turn the engine over. I've got fire going to the coil. The check engine light comes on as soon as I turn the key in the ignition. Any Ideas? thanks.

You might try the Magnetic Pickup in the distributor. Or better Yet, get another distributor and swap it out. Definitely sounds like a dist related problem.