Not getting 12 volts to coil

Mattax, I got 9 volts at the steering column connecter while cranking, but 10.5 on the other side in the engine bay for the same circuit by backprobing while cranking. Unless I had measurement error when I got '0' resistance 2 days ago in this same circuit, I don't understand. On your voltage drop test from the alternator to the spicle when the lights were on, I got 2.4 volts. (hey, at least my lights work, so at least part of the spice under the dash is o.k.). I could not do your other test, because my car won't start--at least due to low voltage to the coil, and I'm afraid to force a crank by hooking a battery cable from the battery + to the + coil. I have .45 volt drop at my negative cable to the negative battery post and .4 drop at my positive cable to the positive battery post.