john,
While you still are running 9.x, download 'PPC Checker' here...
http://www.xlr8yourmac.com/G3CARDS/PPCchecker/
...and see if it reports this number for your CPU:
PowerPC 750L (LoneStar, Rev2.2) Copper G3 PVR = 0x00088202
This particular CPU (both 333 & 400MHz) runs perfectly with the max of 512MB in 9.x but will have a problem with any version of 10.x. The only workaround is to leave the top memory slot empty and run a low-profile 256MB in the bottom slot.
The symptoms of the bad CPU: Lombard will not successfully boot to 10.x CD/DVD, or it will boot but not install the software successfully, or it installs properly but will not restart to the HD, or if you are successful with the restart, you will have random freezes.