Hi Carl
WOW you got a lot of work to do on you goggo - this is a pre select box, and it works on electro-magnetic sensors, you select the gear that you want from the panel on the dashboard 1-2-3-4-and reverse (the reverse switch is underneath the box) then press the clutch down and the is a sensor on the clutch lever that sends a message to the gearbox to select the gear you have chosen.
It takes a bit of getting used to because you have to think ahead, even when going into neutral the car has to be moving when neutral is selected and then you have to press the clutch pedal.
The pedals on the floor are from left to right the clutch the brake and the one with the wheel the accerator. You have a mass of wires going into the engine, my car has a terminal block, these cars often fail because one (or more ) of the preselectors have failed, If I were you I'd take the engine out to rebuild it.
You should have two coils and two capacitors (mounted to the coils) them two HT leads going to the plugs, the timing is a bit diffucult to do and it requires you to remome the drivers side rear wheel and have a dial guage or some for of measerment for the plugs to set the two point spot on.
I hope this has been some help.
Mike