'90 2.6, used to be auto.
OK, after finally getting the manual tranny bolted up, we tried to see if the car would start. I took the electrical plug that used to connect to the auto tranny apart and wired the two neutral safety switch wires together.

The starter cranks but the engine doesn't turn over. We don't see spark coming out of the coil (tested by holding a screwdriver near the electrical connector of the coil wire while trying to start the engine). Same thing when supplying the coil w/ direct power from the battery. The fuel pumps work and we can smell gas when manually opening the throttle body valve.

Is something keeping us locked out of the coil? Could the coil go bad after about 3 weeks of the car sitting? Should I look elsewhere first?