but the symptom of #1 and #6 not showing up on the timing light when I put the clamp on the wire was present before I changed the points and condensor. That whole dwell thing is something for me to learn.
A bad plug can give a non flash of a timing light. You mentioned you cleaned the plugs. Why? The only time I will clean plugs is if I have another issue, and the plugs get fouled with carbon or soot (only with relatively new plugs).