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Ok I need a refresher course. I have a new battery , plugs, wires and the carb is sucking gas out of a gas can. The engine turns over but no spark at the coil. Cap was cleaned , points look good. I took off the center coil wire put it on some metal and no spark. What did I miss. Oh its a 1953

Was it running ok BEFORE u did the tune up???? i.e. did u at your own hand with your own eyes and your own ears witness the engine running BEFORE u did the tune up???

Is it 6v or a 12volt conversion????

The car has not started in 2 years.

Remove the wire between coil and distributor at dist and scratch that against the block. With key on, if there is a spark then look for a short in dist with something you did --either a screw too long or possibly a faulty component. Perhaps new points are oxidized from sitting or not making a connection. There is a very flexible wire from outside terminal to points covered with a fabric insulation. That fabric deteriorates and wire can short if moved much from original position. If there was a lot of cranking, the battery voltage can drop to the point that while cranking there is not enough to fire the coil. Particularly apparent if battery cables are modern replacements and too small.

6 volt

REmove distributor cap.
Rotate engine unitl points are OPEN.
turn on ign sw.
Hook a test lite on the coil terminal that goes to SIDE of distributor and other leg of test lite to steel distributor housing anywhere.
IF lite shines then rotate engine until points close and the lite should go out (or become extremely dim).

THe above procedure with prescribed results would indicate a prelimnary check as "OK". Then we move on from there.

As HH56 indicates:
Make sure the fabric covered wire and any other wires under the cap are not shorting out against any internal part of the distributor.