RapidRobert

can you elaborate on this (can you hold the coil wire 1/4" from ground & have someone crank it by jumping the starter relay with key "on" (keeps you on ign 1 run) the minute it dies & see if you have spark?.

Which end of the coil wire, the wire feeding the coil to the distributor cap? Which wire are you talking about? My brother probably understands what you are saying, not sure I do. I can try that.