QUOTE(lapuwali @ Oct 26 2004, 02:06 PM)
Test your coil first. Put a spark plug into the coil -> distributor cable (the big one in the center), ground that, and see if you get a spark. If you do, then it's your rotor or cap (replace both, they're cheap). It you don't, then it may be the coil, or it may be the points or condensor. Test to see if the points actually make and break a connection using a test light or a meter. If you suspect the coil or the condensor, replace them (again, they're cheap, and testing either of them is difficult w/o special tools).
Distributors are pretty simple devices, and it's pretty hard to make them not work w/o it being very obvious (rotor doesn't turn, etc). Points and condensor can and will fail regularly, and need regular replacing, which isn't much of a problem considering they're like $10-15. If you don't want the points hassle, splurge $80-100 on a Pertronix and eliminate both. Coils can fail, though it's not all that common.
tested the coil at FLAPS it was running a few ohms too high so i just bought one at the FLAPS for the time being. the rotor rotates. the cap, rotor, wires, n plugs are all new. all of them except the wires are made by Bosch. Ive also replaced the old battery. ive checked the points (0.016)

iono what else could be wrong