Classic/Antique Car Repair: 63 Jaguar XKE (6 cylinder), coil wire, blue spark

Question
Am helping church friends fire up the subject vehicle that has not been started for 6 years. I have the fuel system cleaned up but cannot get spark. I have power to the coil, good condensor, clean points, good high voltage lead to distributer. Not sure where to go from here. New large battery gives it a good spin. I am out of ideas. Would appreciate your thoughts.

Answer
Hi Charlie,
The E-type Jag is a Kettering ignition so all you need to do is remove the coil wire from the center of the dist. cap and remove the cap. Turn the engine over until the contact points are "Closed". Turn the ign. switch on and hold the coil wire close to any metal part of the engine and with a non metallic item, open and close the contact points. Each time you "Open" the points you should see a bright thick blue spark (not in the sun light) jump to the engine from the coil wire. If you don't want to risk getting shocked hold the coil wire also with something non metallic. The spark should easily jump 1/8 inch or more. If you do get a good spark but not to a plug, try to jump a spark to the top center of the rotor button, If you can jump a spark to the top of the rotor, it is shorted and bad. examine the carbon brush in the center of the inside of the cap and look with a bright light for "carbon tracks" inside and outside the cap. Check the plug wires, especially if they have been replaced with carbon wires.
Let me know what you find.
Howard