just put both new wiring harnesses on a small block 65 and the problem that occures is the ballast resistor heats up and smokes shortly after the key is turned on, all wires are connected. bad ground?????????
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Re: mid-year ballast resistor
Sounds like the ground is tooooo good. The resistor should be dropping about
4v across it with 8v drop across the coil when the points are closed. You probably have the points connected to the same terminal on the coil as the ballast resistor.
Correct connection will be the wire from the points connected to the (-) terminal on the coil and the ballast resistor connected to the (+) terminal. If this is correct then the coil is probably bad.
Check the resistance of the coil (+) to (-). It should be approximately twice the resistance measured across the resistor.
Good luck -
Re: mid-year ballast resistor
Depending on the engine option the OE ballast can be either 0.3 or 1.8 ohm through '65.
DukeComment
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Re: mid-year ballast resistor
If you saw smoke I think you should check the wiring carefully make sure you didn't fry a wire. I screwed up the wires going from the coil to the starter (I think thats what it was it was several years ago) and saw smoke. In about 10 seconds I melted the wire and had to replace that harness.Comment
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Just A Thought...
After installing a NEW ballast risistor and turning the key on but NOT starting the engine, the resister will heat up and burn the oil residual off the resistor coil, causing smoke. Scare Me... !!!Comment
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Re: Just A Thought...
perhaps the Vitalis you're grooming your hair with got on the ballast resistor. take resistors out of bathroom storage.mikieComment
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Well, Mr Smartypants...
...maybe it was my fresh firewall paint right under the resistor that was smoking. Anyway, Pomade doesn't smoke when exposed to heat...Comment
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Re: Well, Mr Smartypants...
might have been KY jelly. smartypantsComment
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Hmm... I'd go with that guess too. I doubt if
the Dipstick has any other way to use up his supply from yesteryear.Comment
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