I have been trying to figure out why my 67 chevelle (396 four speed) wont start, when I noticed every time I turn the key to the on position, the coil smokes from where the ignition wire, and starter wire attach. The starter and soleniod where bench tested fine.

Typically, this is not good.

To say the least.

That would be a sign that the coil has failed or there is a dead short to ground.

Easiest fix would be to swap in a known good coil, or if you have a meter, just check the coil windings. I am guessing that you have points, so I would check them also, as well as the condenser, for a short to ground.

An oddball issue I once had was that the coil wire had broken most of the strands just before the connector. It had enough strands to show 12 volts when tested, and would start the engine. However it would not carry enough current to run for more than a minute. It would kill the engine, but it got hot while I was testing and nearly started a fire.

the positive side of the coil should use a resistance wire from the ignition switch to the coil.if you are getting to much voltage you will burn up the coil,aftermarket coils requiring only 12 volt supply are available anywhere 40$cdn i just put one in mine.im thinking voltage supply with proper resistance wire is around 6 volts.ill try to look it up in the manual tommorow.dodge used the ballaist resistor to reduce their voltage supply and gm had the resistance wire my car is new to me 1 month ago so this is new to me to,mine is original 13817 car missing original motor and trans but now 350 350 so so with a few years of work and lots of money im looking forward to restoring.hope this helps you

My uncle who has a 65 dodge coronet was just talking about that this morning. The wire coming from the ignition to the coil is wrapped in the white cloth, and some of it has been burnt off, but wire itself still seems good. The coil does have the little thing attached to it with a lead to the plus side of coil, I thought that was a resister. Thanks for the ideas.

The coil does have the little thing attached to it with a lead to the plus side of coil, I thought that was a resister. Thanks for the ideas.

that little condensor looking thing on the coil bracket is for radio interference.
How much voltage do you have on the positive side of the coil with the car off,key on and with it running?

If you have a set of points, you need a ballast resistor.
I fried a coil without one, nighttime, dark road, middle of nowhere......
Consult a repair manual, test the coil, you may have fried it......

that little condensor looking thing on the coil bracket is for radio interference.
How much voltage do you have on the positive side of the coil with the car off,key on and with it running?

you lost me with the" car off, key on, and with it running".

I cant get it running.

I tried the multimeter, and the battery is showing 12+ but on the coil with the key on, I am not getting anything. should I be putting both leads from tester on both coil studs, or put the neg on the car frame? from both coil studs, I get nothing, but I am not sure if I got a good ground on the car. I had to check it withing about 10 seconds from turning the dey on. The white wrapped wire got burning hot, then the coil + terminal started to smoke again.

To test the coil, could I take starter, and ignition wire off the + side, put them together then bump the key to see if starter engages? Or is that starting another set of problems? If I can do that, do I also have to disconnect the neg side of coil?
Thanks.

just wondering as i said earlier i have installed a new coil on my 350 that hadnt been running in 20 years when i bought it,but on the coil it said it was good for 12 volts.i have 12 v at the positvive side of coil from ign switch only 1 wire on + side , on the- side i have 1 wire which goes to distributor and 1 wire which goes to the tach,my question is should i have 1 power supply wire coming from the starter. it starts and runs not bad for sitting for 20.a little finicky to start when hot but carb still needs set up.
thanks