Originally posted by OldIronChevy:
... to hot wire it just have two lengths or wire with alligator clips on each end for the one it just to needs to be like a foot clip it on negative side of coil and clip it to the block (just so you know for sure you have ground)
I believe that negative wire your adding from the coil to the block would bypass the points in the distributor, thereby not allowing the coil field to collapse to generate repeated spark. Otherwise your advice to hook a hot wire direct to coil+ is sound.
Possible that someone who didn't know better tossed a 12V battery in and "burnt up all the wires under the dash" as you mentioned. Sometimes the way we find them, is not the way they're supposed to be.
You'll do no harm cranking the starter over with 12V, but check the coil for 6V or 12V markings. I'm not the one to ask about which year they changed. (I had a '53 car that was 6V, my '58 truck is 12V.) If 6V, you'll need to swap in a 12V coil to get'er home.
Wishing you well,
John
