Your problem is the Autolite plugs. I have finally replaced mine after a few months of similar symptoms. (Used Motorcraft double platinums) and all is well again.
Hmmm...were you using the Autolite Platinum (single platinum), or the Autolite Platinum Pro (double platinum) plugs?? I was under the impression that Autolite makes Motorcraft's double platinums - the Autolite Platinum Pro plugs are supposed to be the exact same plug as the Motorcraft double platinums. The single platinum Autolite might cause some problems, but the the double platinum should not.
Tim, this is just a wild hunch, & probably not your problem (but may be for others w/similar complaints), but your symptoms sound so much like a clogged fuel filter - a filter that is plugging up often causes intermittent symptoms. I know you said that you changed it a couple of thousand miles ago, but I'm wondering if it isn't possible that you had some crud in your tank that may have gotten into your new filter & killed it prematurely. It could also be that that fuel pump strainer (on the FP) is clogged.
On a related note, had you gone a long time before changing your fuel filter? A clogged fuel filter will stress a fuel pump & cause its premature demise.
For anyone interested, here's a discussion that we had on fuel filter replacement that also touches on ways to prolong pump life. (The topic was started in "Mods" for some reason, but really should have been posted in "General" or "Problems".)
Fuel Filter Replacement
