[RonC]

With the power off. (if you have a pop out, pull the fuse or battery and turn the switch ON so the pop out does not ground out your dist.) Check the point arm and arm stud with a piece of cardboard between the points. there should be no continuity from any part of the point arm to any part of the top plate. use an ohm meter. If there is continuity work backwards starting with the wire between the plates and the bottom plate. Check the lower plate insulated studs. They should be tight. Run an ohm meter from both studs to the lower plate surface to make sure there is no continuity. If all is well, as mentioned, then pull the dist., remove the ignition cable end, reinstall with a jumper wire for the power instead of the switch cable.