Ignition problems

[JGoodin86]

I have a 47 dodge and i am not getting any spark... I think it has something to do with my coil... I know that the top connection goes to the distributor cap.. but the two connections on the side, where do they go? I think that on of them goes to a 12 v supply.. Does the other one go to a ground?? I tried this, but i couldn't get it to spark. And what wire goes into the side of the distributor?
Can anyone help!!
Thanks
Jacob

[MagicRat]

The two connectors on the side should be marked positive (+) and negative (-). The positive goes to the ignition switch and the negative goes to the thin wire that comes out of the side of the distributor

That thin wire is a ground wire, but the distributor has a mechanism inside that connects then disconnects the ground each time a spark plug is supposed to fire.

[JGoodin86]

thank you. Can i just run the positive to a 12v supply since i am not running it through the ignition switch? (don't know where the key is)

[KC Ron Carter]

On the early ignition systems the source of 12 volts is the terminal on the starter.

That provides a very hot spark.

For the normal operations the 12 volts are put through a resistor that any auto parts store can supply that drops the input voltage to 9 volts so the coil is not over heated.

So you must supply the input from two sources.

http://www.imperialclub.com/Repair/Electrical/coil.htm

Later,

[GTR2b]

do NOT run the positive straight the battery!!! Please I hope that wasn't what you meant.

If you do that, you will have no way of shutting the engine off when you turn the key off shy of putting your hand over the carb!

Look for a starter solenoid located on one of the fenders. It will have a two large terminals, one to the battery and one to the starter. There (should) also be one or two smaller terminals on the solenoid. THAT is where the positive lead on the coil should go. Just test it and make sure it's only hot when the key is switched to ON. The negative side of the coil goes to your distrubutor. That is where is gets the negative signal charge that allows it to build and collapse it's magnetic field that creates your spark. There should be a lead that comes off your points in your distributor.