put the pointer on the ball, (you do have it on compression right?) loosen distributor clamp just enough to let it turn, but tight enough it won't be all sloppy. rotate it clockwise till the points open and then close again, turn on the ignition and rotate it SLOWLY counter clockwise till you just see an arc at the points. "IMPORTANT STEP" turn off ignition. Timing should be nearly dead on. But make sure spark is making it all the way to the plugs. I had an experience where there is a tall, and a short cap/rotor combination with the short rotor in the tall cap which let me have spark a the points but it wasn't making it all the way to the plugs. Other than that just do what Carl has suggested, each category of trouble shooting has several facets, such as spark, would entail any and all activities necessary to achieve the desired result, I.E. replace coil, points, reset timing etc. would be three facets pertaining to obtaining "spark". Although you probably know this, I don't know you or your experience/knowledge, so please don't be offended. Also Carl getting old isn't all that bad, soon you can get away with all kinds of behavioral malfunctions, and people will attribute it to you being old. Plus there is the AARP card.
Last edited by brokenhead; 07/11/2014 12:15 PM.
