Classic/Antique Car Repair: car will not start, pig tail, auto stores

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1954 packard clipper straight 8.It used to start and run very well.A while back it started becoming harder to start. Now it will not start at all.I noticed there is no spark coming from the points.There is voltage running through the distributor and points but when the key is on and the points are open i do not get that surge of voltage that is needed to start the car.I have tried 4 coils,4 condensers and 2 sets of points. I am at a loss. i would appreciate any advice you may have. thank you  jim

ANSWER: Ok, do you have a voltmeter? If not a digital can be purchased at most auto stores for less than a $20 bill. The first test that I would make in this situation is to connect the POS of the voltmeter to the primary (small) terminal of the coil that runs to the distributor. The NEG of the voltmeter should be connected directly to the battery ground side or a good ground on the engine itself. Then with the key on and the points open you should read battery voltage. Now if there is no voltage with the points open move the POS lead to the other side of the coil. If there is battery voltage here then there is either a defect in the coil or a ground in the wiring between the coil and the points. If there is no voltage then there is a problem back towards and including the ignition switch. If that checks ok then bump the engine over until the points are closed. Now the voltage should be zero. If it is not zero there could be an internal break in the wire from the coil to the distributor or the pig tail wire in the distributor could have a break. Next move the voltmeter POS lead to the connection on the points them selves. If there is voltage here the problem could be a broken ground wire in the distributor or the contact between the breaker plate in the distributor and the distributor body not making a good contact. Finally make sure that the distributor is making a good ground with the engine block. If these tips don’t get to the problem get back to me and we will go from there.

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QUESTION: Thank you for getting back to me.I think i followed your instructions correctly.I put the POS. wire from the voltmeter to the coil on the distributor side and the NEG.wire to a good ground.With the key on i get 6 volts,with the points open, its a 6 volt system.Now with the points closed i get no voltage.Moving the voltmeter to the points, with the points closed i get no voltage.With the points open i get 6 volts.I take the POS.wire from the voltmeter  and hook it to the side of the distributor and when i crank the engine i get between 3 and 4 volts when the points open and 0 voltage when the points close. Because the spark plugs are not firing, the engine turns over very slowly. I don't know if that tells you anything.The hot wire in the distributor is not near any metal.I can not see any loose or broken wires but that does not mean i am seeing everything either.          thank you    jim

Answer
Ok, so far so good. The ignition system is doing exactly what it should be doing. But the last test that you did, taking the voltage with the engine cranking is the one that I was going to have you do next. And the results from that test, the one taking voltage with the engine cranking, has found the problem. The voltage with the engine cranking should be at least 4.5 volts and preferably between 5 and 6 volts. The low voltage here indicates a discharged battery, a battery near failure, or a defect in the starter. When the cranking voltage is below 4.5 volts there is not enough electrical energy to allow the ignition system to build the high voltage needed to fire the plugs. Also the slow cranking speed keeps the engine turning slow and not drawing a good air fuel mixture charger into the cylinders. So, get the battery charged and load tested. If the battery is ok then it points to the starter or bad connections at the battery cables both at the battery and the other end. Keep me posted.