Thank you everybody for your replies!! You don't know how much I
appreciate the help :)

I remeasured the wire and found it at about 12000 ohms... went to the
parts store, opened up a set of wires, and measured the same wire -
about 9000 ohms. So close enough, I figured (they have a restocking
fee, so didn't want to take them home to test). I tried Mark's trick
of attaching a spark wire with spark plug attached, and grounding that
to the block - no spark :(

Tested the low-tension lead that attaches to the coil - with the
ignition on, one multimeter lead attached to the LT lead and one
multimeter lead touching the block, it read ~11.5 volts. So, we figure
that power is getting to the coil, but no farther - bad coil? Is there
any way to check (I tried the resistance test between center and side,
and between both sides, and found it to be a tiny bit out higher than
spec).

Thanks again!!
Mike.

On 6/25/05,   <rrecardo@webtv.net> wrote:
> 16,000 ohms?
> 
> I'd check to see that I had the right setting on the ohm meter before I
> got nervous.
> It's possible you got the right reading but on the wrong scale or
> hundredth.
> ( you can select what scale you want to read on your mutimeter.
> Right?)
> 
> You can't locate any individual plug wire?
> Go to any lawn mower shop or Ace is the Place.
> Pick your self up  a length of Packard 440 wire, and some ends.
> 
> Nobody will be able to listen to a radio in a 5 mile radius of your Van,
> but if your coil is good, you'll have direct drive spark, and a low ohm
> draw.
> 
> Rather than doing a cheap repair, why not just pop for some tune up
> parts and a set of good copper,or stainless core wire's.
> Throw the cabon core garbage away.
> The pencil lead filled string wire.
> 
> Do you know when the last time the Van's engine was completely tuned up?
> 
> You have to start somewhere.
> Might as well be here.
> 
> 
>