My 1976 280z balast resistor has a black and white wire that is hot when the key ON. A black and blue wire has power only when cranking the engine and another black and white wire that goes to a capasitor. When I crank the engine no spark from the coil but when the key is on ACC the coil wire sparks. I have a mallory coil, mallory distributor. Any Ideas?

Sound like something is wired wrong. You shouldn't have power to the ignition coil when the key is in the ACC position.

From a 1978 280Z wiring diagram:

The black w/white stripe powers the ignition relay.

Blue w/white stripe goes to the ballast resistor.

Blue wire goes from the ballast resistor to the ignition coil.

Was it running previously? Since you have an aftermarket coil and distributor I hope the installer wired it correctly.

Edited September 5, 200816 yr by Curtis240Z

Can you tell me what color these wires are?

It is hard to tell from the picture, but is looks like a blue and maybe a blue or green wire on one side of the coil. There is a red wire and another wire on the other terminal. Definitely not stock wiring.

Ok I am think i may have almost figured this out im getting power and the coil is working and the distributor is working but only when the key the last click befor start.

Good, the last click before START is the ON position, which is when you want the coil working and of course during the START position too.