Update and a question:

I was able to set the timing statically to about 3 degree before TDC. By chance, the starter put the white dot I had put on TDC just about 3 degree before the mark on the block. Rotor was correctly pointing to cylinder 1 mark in distributor and a peek in oil filler hole indicated that camshaft was up and valves of No 1 were closed. So I hooked everything up and turned the distributor until I heard a light "crack" indicating spark had jumped in distributor. Tightened everything up and tried starting car. It had a small fire hickup (hope at last!), but that was about it. Tried it several times. On all occasions, engine smelled like gasoline after a while so it seems to be flooding indicating plenty of fuel going in.

So my thoughts were going back to weak spark/ignition.

I measured resistance from main lead in distributor cap to carbon tip and it showed good continuity, so no broken carbon tip or connection.

Wondering whether I had a broken solid core coil lead, I put an Ohm meter on the main lead from coil to distributor and it showed an unexpectedly high resistance. It does show continuity, but Ohms are high. I also measured the spark plug cable from distributor to cylinder 1 and it had less than half the resistance of the coil lead, and I had to push a wire in to get a contact at the back, so it probably was not a great contact either.

Question: The coil distributor cable is a Bosch 7mm silicon cable. Is it supposed to have a high resistance?

One theory I have is that the coil cable may have an internal break causing a weak spark. It was the only cable I pulled off during my slave cylinder repair because I wanted to check that the clutch and transmission internals were fine by cranking the engine without ignition. It was sticky, so I am suspicious whether I accidentally caused a crack/break in the silicone near the distributor end. I did see a long spark earlier, but perhaps that was a fluke spark due to break being accidentally closed when I held is tight together in a plier.

Do you think it is the coil lead?

Thanks,

Bert

__________________
'70 111 280SE/c 3.5 (4 spd manual) - sold
'63 MGB
'73 MGBGT V8