Hi all ,
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm Yep I'm having some problems with my 65 valiant slant. I was setting the timing up by useing a standard test light to find out when the points were opening , When I notice that there were sparks jumping around the coil ?? They do it , at the moment the points open . I have seen the spark jump out of the HT coil socket & jump to the LT terminals . The coil in new , it is wired up so Neg goes to the Distributor & the positive side of the coil has the blue wire connected to it . I tried disconectining the blue wire & I ran a Hot wire from the positive side of the battery straight to the coil . No luck the sparks are still there . All terminals are tight & I have also tried a second Distibutor & a second coil. ........
HELP !!!!!
It all started when the car was running like a hairy dog , Black sooty plugs, Backfires though carb on hard Reving .
So I started at the dizzy . It's got new contacts , condensor & cap .
Perhaps some of you guys have some ideas .
Thanks

Well first things first I'd recomend switching to either mopar electronic ignition or an msd.

But if you'd just like to stick with points, Check out your plug wires and make sure they are in good shape. If they can't deliver all the energy coming out of the coil to the plugs it might tend to crossfire or jump to ground. If the plugs are really bad clean them off and regap them (stock spec is 35)

High resistance in the secondary circuit will cause the spark to jump from the coil tower to the lead terminal(s).
Spark plugs, spark plug wires are the most common places to pick-up excess resistance. Also look at the gap between the rotor and the dist. cap, that could have increased, carbon build-up on the contacts will add to resistance.

Also look to be sure the coil wire contact ring is snapping into the coil socket, if the metal is up high in the rubber boot, that makes for a shorter path out.
DD

Thanks , I will have another go at it tomorrow after work . & post the results .
Thanks Ed

Thanks for your help guys, I borrowed a multi meter of a friend & found that the resistance in the coil wire was way out .I haven't bought any yet as I'm trying to locate some with the boots .
thanks again Ed