What is so weird is that both delays are implemented the same way using the pause command. Changing the Watchdog Postscaler from 1:128 to 1:8 speeds-up one but not the other. The timers are basically like this:
timer:
pause 60
let x = x + 1
if x >= 100 then blahblah
goto timer

This 6 second routine is exactly 6 seconds with the 16F76 but is about 4-1/2 with the 18F2510. Changing the Watchdog Postscaler has no effect on this one. Now this 500 MS routine takes 2 seconds and speeds-up to 500 MS with the Postscaler set to 1:8:

if porta.5 = 0 then pause 500 : goto start

I was hoping I was missing something (never used an 18F before). But it looks like it's time to order some new PIC's (I only have 1) I was driven crazy 2 times before by what turned out to be a bad PIC. It's that time of year here when everytime you touch a doorknob you get a shock. Maybe I toasted it. Thanks for the help everybody.