Ballast resistor

[Lonewolf1990]

Just purchased a hot spark coil and I wanna install a new ballast resistor how do I wire a two prong resistor from the old 4 wire resistor 

[banzai510(hainz)]

i thought I awnsered this last night on another thread

 

if this is a 3 ohm coil  you find the ON wire which has 12volts ON key position  to + side coil

                                           Find the START wire and put to  + side coil

 

Personally I would have keep the stock coil/ballast as is most likely Made in Japan. Most new stuff is all China

Edited January 7, 2022 by banzai510(hainz)

[Lonewolf1990]

The stock one is strong enough for the upgraded coil?

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

It's not a matter of strength. It's a matter of having the proper resistance to be compatible with the coil and whatever ignition module you are using.

 

 

[datzenmike]

The points are the limiting factor in the stock system. They can only survive a finite amount of current flow. The arcing erodes the contact surfaces. Between 1.5 ohms (coil) and 1.5 ohms (ballast) totals about 3 ohms so the currant flow can be calculated (assuming a maximum 14 volts charge when running) as 4.666 amps. Starting would be bypassing the ballast and with only the 1.5 ohm coil.... 9.3 amps to give a higher output briefly while starting.

 

Total watts used in the system is 65.33 / 2 = 32.66 watts each for coil and ballast. It would seem the stock 1.5 ohms ballast must be capable of dissipating 32.66 OR MORE watts of heat. 

 

 

New coil....

Cannot really have lower resistance or more current will flow not only shortening the life of the points but also over heating the ballast resister' wattage rating. A 'high performance' coil will have to be more efficiently wound and be made of better materials.

 

 

The EI Matchbox distributor.

Using transistors to switch the coil on and off and eliminating the points altogether there is no need for a ballast resister to limit voltage and current. Thus a coil can be built with a much lower .75 - 1.0 ohms. The current in a matchbox electronic ignition is simple to calculate as 14 to 18.66 amps assuming a 14 volt charging system. As you can see with over 14 amps as compared to the 4.66 amps of a points system, the matchbox will have a much higher output.  

[Lonewolf1990]

Ok so I'm running the super stack coil that runs at 1.4ohms and I found a ballast resistor that is at 1.4 on Amazon but has to points 

[datzenmike]

What's the build date on the driver's door tag say?????? Do you have disc brakes on the front????

 

You have a '77 right? The '77 is a points distributor. 1.4 ohms is good enough to use with your stock points ballast no need to replace it.

[banzai510(hainz)]

7 hours ago, Lonewolf1990 said:

Just purchased a hot spark coil

Or is it Super stack or Super stockstock Accell ?????? these now made in China. The THe Big Yellow SUPERcoils are the good ones and hase a spare .7 ohm resisitor in the box.

 

whats wrong with the old coil?????

 

if you not converting to  EI conversion as HotSpark or Pertronix modules and just useing the points in the distributor i wouldnt do anything.

 

best improvement would be to convert to a point less ignition so you dont use the points.  just changing to another coil is limited at best or Bad if you but the wrong one in there

 

https://studylib.net/doc/18163198/troubleshooting-hot-spark-electronic-ignition-conversion-...

 

Edited January 7, 2022 by banzai510(hainz)

[Lonewolf1990]

I'm using the super stack 

[banzai510(hainz)]

never heard of them

[datzenmike]

6 hours ago, datzenmike said:

What's the build date on the driver's door tag say?????? Do you have disc brakes on the front????

 

 

 

'78 was the first year the EI system was used outside of California and front disc brakes. Trucks with build dates from June '77 on, are '78 model years. So it's important to be sure you have a '77 model year. Another clue is do you have disc brakes?