Ok, between ice cold battery cables and battery brackets constantly in the way, my engine received a reverse polarity when I put the battery in, UNBELIEVABLE. Of course, the engine turns over but no fire....power to the coil, checking actual spark next.......anybody have this happen?

 

It would be REALLY handy if you told us what year/ make model your car is

Did you turn on the key when you had it hooked up wrong, or was it a momentary thing with all switches off?

You may have damaged the alternator diodes, but this should not stop it from running.

If you turned on the key with the battery in backwards, you may have fried the electronic ignition. Points would not have mattered.

You may have fried the regulator if the key was on, as well as any other electronic accessories, delay wipers, radio, tach.

THERE we go---if you turned on the key you may have fried the tach, and it could keep the ignition from making spark. Try unhooking the tach

MORE INFORMATION. "We" (We are they, them, "the thems" "We" MUST have more information, more more more............................)