Was the firing order correct when you rechecked it?
The coil was hot?? Hummmm. Which side of the coil do you have the switch connected to? - or +
Should be +, points should be -. If it is wired backwards it will still spark but will be a weak spark.
You said you removed the flywheel pan off to adjust the ball to the pointer? Was that so you could turn the engine by hand? The reason I ask is that there is an inspection hole just above the starter where that ponter is and you don't have to remove anything to see it.

I didn't do it, no one saw me do it, you can't prove anything! "Bart Simpson"