You need to check that your points are connecting. When they get dirty and/or pitted they no longer connect the circuit from the coil to ground and the coil cannot charge up.

I disconnect the distributor wire from the coil and measure the resistance to the distributor body and also check across the points. The points need to be at the flat spot of the distributor cam. The resistance will be zero if they are good. If not ensure they touch. Clean them with a points file or sandpaper or if they look pitted, replace them.


1936 Ford 3W Coupe : 56 T-Bird 312, 47 Packard 3 speed, 40 juice brakes.
1968 Merc Cyclone FB GT 390, Getting a better front clip!
1977 Ford F-250 Supercab RWD Explorer Long box.
1976 Chev Camaro RS LT
Future rebuild : 1949 Ford F-1

My stock '54 Merc quit running and I suspect the coil is the culprit.  I have no fancy test equipment but my circuit tester shows power to the plus side of the coil grounded to the battery and to the minus side of the coil.  I pulled the coil lead from the distributer and layed it next to the exhaust manifold and cranked the engine expecting to see plenty of fire from the lead jumping to ground on the manifold.  Nothing!  I tried a spare coil (condition unknown) and the results were the same.  I am gettig no spark at the dist. points as well, no surprise.  What am I overlooking?  I have a 7 function multi-meter but am somewhat unskilled in its use.
. 
I hate to buy another coil if the fault s elsewhere.  Any help?