If you spin the engine over with the spark plugs out make sure you take the coil wire out of the distributor cap and ground it. You do not want any sparks around if raw fuel comes out of the spark plug holes! Keep an extinguisher handy just in case.
What does it do when you try to start it? Spin slowly = weak battery, backfire out of carb? = ignition timing off, no spark at coil lead= check points, spark at coil lead but not at plug wires = ck dist rotor/cap, plugs wet but spark avail = flooded, clean plugs then reinstall and crank eng with no choke and throttle open. When checking spark take an old plug and remove the ground electrode (the metal that is where spark jumps to) if it will spark from the center electrode to the side of the plug your spark strength is OK. This would confirm only that the coil and points are working. Also use mirror to look down carb throat and see if raw fuel pouring into throat. If yes, stuck float in carb.