Ok , heres another dumbass question about the ignition system on a 1956 Dodge

I have put the new points in , gapped them correctly , and I havent gotten any fire , the new coil I bought seemed to me to feel hot , so , just in case , I went and bought a new coil , along with a ceramic resistor , my question: does the resistor go between the hot wire and the positive side of the coil? , or does it go between the negative side of the coil and the distributor? , it wasnt on the car when I got it , and I have never messed with them , so , It may seem ignorant to ask this , but , I would rather ask then burn something up...lol

 

Resistor goes on the positive side of the coil from the ignition switch. Did you get a 6 volt or 12 volt coil, since they changed somewhere near that time (I think).

 

12 volt , it was the first year I am told...

 

Did you change the condenser ?
The resistor goes in the wire from the ignition switch to the hot side of the coil .

 

Something wrong someplace. If the coil gets hot it is getting power and the power is going to ground. If the points are opening and closing, it should be turning the power on and off and the coil should be sparking.

Did you check just the coil, by sticking a plug wire right in the coil, grounding the plug to the engine and turning over? Did you get a spark?

If the above theory is correct most likely the condenser is no good.

See if you can find a wiring diagram and wire the resistor accordingly. They don't always go the way you think.

 

you probably grounded your points, common rookie mistake on points

 

Check where the condenser wire and hot wire bolt to the points, sometimes when you tighten the nut one of the wires will come in contact with the distributor plate and ground out the ignition.

 

Like this!

Make sure that the lead to the points isn't turned the wrong way around and touching the breaker plate. Check the wire where it p***es thru the distributor housing and make sure the insulation isn't split or rubbed thru and grounding to the housing.

 

Agreed, look for a missing or crumbling insulating spacer or just something touch that should not be,some times hard to pick out when working on the dist while it is in place.. and 56 is first year for 12 volts.