Classic/Antique Car Repair: Engine turns - wont fire, studebaker truck, peroids

Question
I have a 1956 Studebaker truck It was running fine one week, the next week I tried to start it - the thing would not fire. I tried starting fluid in the carb (this always seemed to work in the past when it sat for longer peroids of time) still no fire. I checked the spark from the coil, to the points, to the plugs & all seemed to be fine. It is getting gas to the carb. The last few times I started the motor it did seem to run a little rough for about the first minute, until it warmed up a little. The white pottery block above the coil checked OK & I have replaced the coil. One odd thing I noticed when I removed the wire from the coil (the other end remained on the distributor) & cranked the engine over, the coil sparked from one of the outside terminals to the firewall, this stoped when the the wire (to the dist.) was replaced. Thanks Mark

Answer
Make sure your plugs are firing, not just the wire to them. Yes, I know that is pulling everyone of them and turning the engine. but you have to know.

By the way, I love your name for the ceramic resistor. The spark tp firewall is normal.

Sounds like either bad plugs or jumped timing. Pray for plugs.