I gave up on the Pertronix and reinstalled a new set of points and condenser but now I don't get a spark.

Two questions. I'm concerned about the lead wire from the points to the grommet inside the distributor. It appears that this assembly makes contact with the distributor housing on the inside. There is a reddish colored sleeve where the grommet penetrates the distributor the would seem to insulate the grommet, but on the inside and outside of the distributor there is metal to metal contact. Maybe that's the way it is supposed to be. I consulted the 1949-1959 Ford Car Parts illustration (Page 374) and there may be a part on there that I'm not sure I have. Numbered "12234". Or maybe I do have it - if it is the piece that holds the head of the threaded grommet from rotating when the nuts are attached to the outside of the distributor.

Also. How the heck do you keep the point set from opening wider when tightening the set screw? As I tighten the screw the gap separates wider and wider. Is there supposed to be a washer there? Mine didn't have one before. I placed the gapping tool in the points and tightened it some, to a point I made sure it didn't move, but now I wonder if it was too loose it could have shifted when cranking the engine.