its been so long since i owned anything with points that i cant recall if the ballast resistor goes on the hot lead to the coil or between the coil and the distributor...... HELP!!!
Normally from the hot lead to the coil. There is also usually a byp*** to the hot side of the coil from the starter solenoid, to provide a full 12 volts to the coil during cranking. I'm ***uming you're working with a 12-volt system if you're using a ballast. 6-volt systems don't normally use them.
Not only that, it's also to stop a 12v coil from burning the points. BTW: stupid is only if you dont ask the questions.
There are also coils with built in internal resistors. You need to know what type of coil you have before you install a resistor. Jerry
If you had a ballast inline, does it really matter if the coil needs one or not? In other words, if you swap a coil and put in one with a resistor, do you have to remove the ballast?
now THAT..... clears everything up......the ignition system im runnin is a stone stock points style dist and replacement parts coil off a 300 horse 350 from a 70 impala.... please tell me ya dont need to know what type steering box i have!!!
Most coils produced before electronic ignitions were developed were designed to work with 6-volts to keep the coils operating temperature under control. The ballast resistor or resistor wire were there to drop the 12-volts to 6-volts with a value of near 1 Ohm. There are so many different types of 1 Ohm resistors out there that it is not worth mentioning. Just suffice it to say that any automotive "ignition ballast" type resistor or resistor wire will function close enough to the same as to work for most intents and purposes. Diverting around this resistor was a function of the Chevrolet starter solenoids which gave 12-volts to the coil during the start phase to give a temporary hot spark for starting. To do this for a longer period would overheat the coil.
Enough said about ballast resistors I just wanted to say your avatar looks a lot like my roadster looked in the '80s. Just thought you might want to see what it could look like with a little more work. Gary
its never gonna look that nice gary! but thanks for the encouragement. i KNOW it'll never look that good because the paint n body work is done!
So how many coats of clear did you put on that...GOLDEN RETRIEVER...?? If you're using all the stock ignition parts, you should be ok, obviously. Just make sure you don't have 2 resistors i.e. a ballast and one built in the coil. Also, you should wire up the "start byp***" to make cold starting easier. It can come off the second small terminal on the starter solenoid.
A replacement coil for a 70 Chevrolet will need a ballast resistor if it is used in a different system. Chevrolet used a resistance wire instead of a ballast resistor that we all know but it does the same job. It is buried in the harness so it can't be seen. If you use this coil on a hotrod it will need a ballast resistor to replace the one buried in the stock harness.
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