Try this: get out your trusty test light, the one that lights up when it's touched to a voltage source. Even a test light for a 12 volt system will work, it will just burn a little dim on 6 volts. Attach the wire to a good ground, like the coil bracket, for instance. The first thing to do is "test the test light" by touching a known source of voltage like the big battery cable terminal on the starter. It lights up? OK, now to check the primary ignition circuit.
With the ignition switch turned on, touch the test light probe to the (+) terminal of the coil. It should light up. If it doesn't, trace the wire back toward the ignition switch until you find the open circuit. Got light? Now touch the test probe to the (-) terminal. If the points are open, the light should burn. If the points are closed, the light should go out. The same thing should happen at the outside terminal at the distributor, since you're testing the other end of the wire that attaches to the coil (-) terminal.
Another way to check the internal connections in the distributor is to attach the test light wire to a known voltage source (the big battery cable is the best one) so the light will burn when touched to a ground. Remove the primary wire from the coil (-) terminal to the distributor and touch the test light to the outside terminal on the distributor. The light should flash on and off as the points are opened and closed. If the light is on or off continuously, you've mis-wired something during the point installation. It's easy to do!
Jerry
