Wiring question

Remove the distributor cap and bump-start the engine until the points open. At the distributor, remove the small wire comming from the coil. Check the CONTINUITY from the post on the outside of the distributor to ground. If it shows a closed circuit, the needle pegs, you've got a short at the pass-through bolt, probably the little cardboard type of insulator where the copper strap from the points connect to the inside of the distributor.

Hope this helps, know the feeling,

John A.

Cheap $15 voltmeters will measure continuity. $500 voltmeters will be more accurate. You can even use a brakelight bulb to indicate (that means light-up) continuity. If'n it don't light, the circuit is dead, or non-continious.

Or you could also use the Ohm meter option to measure continuity if you don't have any other voltages on the wire circuit.

Gettcha neighbors 9th grade geek kid to show you how..... .....respectfully, Dell

May be easier to check for sparks if you disconnect the wire at coil instead of the distributor. Darker up there.

Hope this helps,

John A.