Ballast resistor in 1969?

[Jeff Broughton]

Last week I apparently fried the Mallory breakerless ignition in my '69. I now have a Lectric Limited breakerless kit that I would like to replace it with. In the instructions it specifies that it is designed to work with the factory installed ballast resistor - either the white ceramic block on the firewall or a resistor wire that is part of the wiring harness. I don't see the ceramic block on mine, so I'm ASSUMING that in '69 GM used the resistor wire? My chassis manual specifically shows the wire to the coil labeled as a resistor wire for all of the Chevy models EXCEPT Corvette. Can I just hook this thing up and go with it, or do I need to modify my wiring?

Thanks!

Jeff

[Dick W.]

Re: Ballast resistor in 1969?

Beginning in 1968 the Corvette used a resistor wire in the B+ to the coil instead of a ballast resistor. Unless Buba or some other yahoo has jury rigged the wiring you should be able to just directly connect the Lectric Ltd unit. If you have a test light you should be able to tell if you have a resistor. Ground the test light and touch the probe to the battery terminal on the alternator. Note the brightness of the light. Turn the ignition to the on position and touch the probe to the wire in the harness going to the coil. It should be noticeably dimmer if the resistor wire is still there.

[Jeff Broughton]

Re: Ballast resistor in 1969?

Thanks Dick, that's exactly what I needed to know. I don't see any signs that anybody has modified the original wiring harness, but I will check it out with the test light just to make sure.

Thanks again!

Jeff

[John H.]

Re: Ballast resistor in 1969?

Also, that original coil feed resistor wire is the only wire in the car that's cloth-covered (white/red/black weave); if it isn't, Bubba has been there.