since you say your coil went bad I am thinking part of your po wiring mismash has eliminated the run side of the starting circuit.
Running 12-volts all the time through a standard coil can burn them up over time.
I think korllach's idea of rewiring everything would be a smart use of your time and $$$.
Good luck.
Mark o.
Winlock, wa
Not a factual statement regarding the operating voltage of the ignition coil.
The nominal 12vdc inductive-type ignition coil can actually run on an input of upwards of 18vdc with no ill effect. The actual operating voltage of the entire electrical system when the engine is running and the alternator is producing is actually a nominal 13.8>14.2vdc, it is not "12 volts"!
We've discussed this "coil" primary voltage and "primary resistance" deal over and over in many threads in the ignition tech sub-forum.
Inna "conventional" battery-powered, inductive ignition system using breaker points for the switch, we feed a "bypassed" b+ to the coil positive terminal during cranking. Once the engine fires and is running, we feed a "reduced" voltage to the coil positive terminal in order to control primary current (measured in amperes) across the breaker points to ground.
That current (load) is controlled to a nominal 2.5>3.5 amps continuous duty cycle by the dwell specification of the breaker point system/cam and the primary resistance specification of the ignition coil once it's at operating temperature. And distributor rpm also enters into the equation.
If the primary current/dwell is too "low", then we have random misfire under load, scatter firing, and ignition system shutdown at elevated rpm. If the primary current /dwell is too "high", then the breaker point life is drastically shortened (say...30 minutes of operation??), the points can actually weld themselves together if the insulated arm does not burn through first.
Not every breaker point/inductive ignition system uses a "ballasted " operating scenario, other manufacturers use ignition coils with other primary resistance values, and distributors with alternative dwell factors. This is why the ignition coil on any inductive system must "match" the system, this is not a "they are all the same" scenario, there are thousands of canister-type ignition coils that look similar but are not identical specification electrically-speaking.
Why re-wire the entire vehicle if only the ignition system needs attention???