WTF- Stranded in Germany

[stock89]

All,
This is ridiculous but here it goes because I need help.

I've been having a problem with hot starting so I checked the timing and it was fine. I did notice however that my sparkplug wires were all cracking from the header heat b/c the wires had straight boots.

Getting a spark plug wire is ungodly expensive here (don't know why) so I ordered a new set and coil from Napa online.

Got the wires and coil yesterday, a week later. I pulled the wires off one at a time, putting a small amount of WD40 onto each plug end to ease getting a good seat. Then I put on the new coil.

Damn thing won't start now. It just cranks and cranks really fast, but won't start. I looked at the Chiltons to make absolutely sure I hadn't messed up the order of the wires. I thought, maybe I got a bad coil. I put the old coil back on. Still won't start.

I pulled off a few random plug wires and checked, I'm not getting any spark. I pulled the cap and looked at the points and rotor, everythings fine. I pulled the wire from the distributor to the coil and when trying to start no fire is going from coil to distributor. I used a continuity light and found that I am getting no power to the coil, at all. WTF!

At that point it's freezing outside and almost midnite and I had been playing with it since 5pm.

ANY guidance would be appreciated. Can I just run a short wire from the hot side of the solonoid to the hot side of the coil to see if it'll work then??

I've been working on cars for 5 years and never had such a stupid simple problem..... ERRRR.