NO spark question

The 8.9 V at coil was measured from coil+ to where? If BATT-, try putting the black lead on the engine block, or better the distributor case if you have points. You could be getting a voltage drop on the return to the battery, especially while cranking.

To test the coil and its power source, don't crank the engine. Disconnect coil- and connect a jumper. Quickly ground coil- w/ the jumper and release (ground to block). Each time you release, you should get a spark. If not, try grounding to BATT-. If that works, then you don't have a good return from block to BATT-. If doesn't work, and coil+ is still >8 V, the coil is probably bad. The spark should be right off the coil tower to the block (1/4" gap), taking the distributor out of the equation. If that sparks, start putting things back to factory and see when the spark fails. Sometimes it is sparking, but along the surface of the distributor cap where you can't see it (carbon tracking).