Another thing that buffaloed me a time or two was deteriorated insulating washers
where the screw goes through the distributor wall to carry current from the coil
primary to the points. That is a prime location for an ignition short.
I ended up getting some plastic washers and plastic tube to renew the insulation
and solved the problem. Prior to that it was graveyard dead.
I imagine that somewhere along the way you could get a resistance short so that
you might get some spark but not a strong one. To check it turn the engine to where
the points are open, disconnect the wire to the coil and test it with an ohmmmeter.
It should be way up in the megohms or "infinite".
This problem will be much worse in a wet climate.
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Heart of the USA!