After changing the caliper and hose, the pedal still seemed spongy. I tried Rapid's advice on bleeding and even taking the calipers off the bracket to make sure the bleeder was at max 12 o'clock position and still the same ultimate result.

After all this work on the front lines, calipers, block and hoses- that all "had" to be good. I then looked to the master cylinder again. I still had the old (new from Ehrenberg) master with the large bore and figured what the heck. I had it installed in about ten minutes and bled. The pedal does not have much travel at all but with the prop valve almost completely dialing out the rear brakes, I can get the fronts to lock up first. The big bore master is making the pedal uncomfortably stiff but the system seems to finally work.

Any comments on why the small bore master didn't work? Bad master? pushrod/pedal ratios off? Should I try a different master?

Thanks to all who helped!