HELP, No Sparky!

[71_340Challenger]

It has been a while for me. I have been in the process of resurrecting my 71 Challenger. First, a brief recap. The original 340/727 tranny were pulled to save and due to extensive work needed to get them back up to snuff. Bought a 76 Chrysler New Yorker with a 440 and 727 that I could have for $25 if I got the car out of the field and took it away. Long story short on the 440 is that after going through the machine shop and being checked, the only machine work required was a new valve job on the heads. And, the tranny checked out as good as well. So, I decided why not go with the no replacement for displacement attitude. 

OK, I now have the engine installed and all the wiring put back in and ready to fire it up. Here is my problem. The engine will turn over, but I am not getting any spark to the plugs.  The distributor is a new Mopar Performance unit, new Taylor Ignition wires, new spark plugs, and new battery (I keep it charged using a trickle charger overnight). I had previously converted the 340 setup to the Mopar Electronic ignition setup with the orange box (which was all working when I parked it). Before reinstalling the wiring, I did a continuity check on all the engine and dash harnesses to verify they were good. I have traced the starting wires and have found the following:
1) Dark Blue wire with white tracer gets 12V in the run position at the ballast resistor
2) The Brown wires going to the other side of the ballast resistor and the coil are receiving approximately 9-9.5V in the start position.
3) It has an Accel 8140 Super Coil (came with the car) I have measured the primary resistance to be 1.5 ohms and secondary resistance of 7.2 kohms.
4) I have checked the ignition coil wire and it seems to be OK. I even changed to the old coil wire that came off of the running 340 and no difference.

In the start position, should there be more than 9-9.5V going to the coil? If this is correct, then it has to be the coil, right? Any other suggestions? 

Thanks for the help and the great message board. It is always full of good information.

[Hot_Rodder]

Lemme go ahead and try and get my  in... Is there power to the dist? When you talk about the coil, I'm assuming there's no spark coming out of the coil to the dist? I know on the Charger that I had... I know the wiring on it was kind of funny..... There was a drop in voltage somewhere, made a jumper wire with a toggle switch in between it for a temp fix, then just said th e heck with it, and ordered up an engine wiring harness for it.... Anyway, I know when I did the dist conversion from factory points to M.P. Electronic ignition conv, there was a problem with the wiring, wasn't getting much power. In my case, apparently the previous owner decided that he was gonna try some stupid  , and try and do some rewiring..... Not the best idea, my problem was in that. If there isn't any fire coming from your coil, but you have power going to it, and a good ground, then.... As for lower power going to it, I've noticided in the past, that it still fired, but was a weak spark, then again, this is the old canister design.... Also, be sure to check your power going to the box, to the dist, and recheck your grounds. Also, do you have an additional grounding strap coming off the block to the firewall making good connection? Mine had one added to it for additional help, Mopars didn't seem to be the best with grounding... Anyway.... 

[71_340Challenger]

Hot_Rodder, thanks for the help. I figured it out this afternoon. The coil was getting grounded through the choke (go figure!). Anyway, once I took car of that, SPARK! Thanks again.
Chad