C1 Ballast Resistor

[Bob B.]

Hi all,

I have seen a couple of types of ballast resistors for 1960. Regarding the metal bracket, one has a squared-off U shaped cutout on the side facing the screw hole that is about 1/8 inch all around all three the sides of the U. The other just seems to be an arc partially cut or stamped into the side of the bracket.

Which, if either, is correct for a 1960? Anyone have any pics? For what years was this type used?

Thanks,

Bob

[Bob B.]

PS: Question on the tang.

Hi again,

I just was reading an article on ballast resistors on my Restorer CD by Dale Pearman. He indicates that only the 0.3 ohm resistor was on Corvettes through 1963, and shows a picture of an original one from a 1962 that does not have a tang on it.

So, should I have one with a tang or not?

Thanks,

Bob

[Jack H.]

Re: PS: Question on the tang.

The nitty gritty details of ballast resistors are well documented in existing NCRS JG books. Here are some 'truths' a lot of the senior judges believe to be true:

(1) The ceramic changed geometry somewhere in the '58 timeframe to allow the installation of 2-tab vs. 1-tab screw inserts causing the 'notch' or 'trench' at the terminal mounting location to run entirely across the ceramic out to the outside edges. NOBODY makes a proper reproduction of the early version of the ballast resistor ceramic.

(2) The mounting band had Delco Remy's scrip logo embossed in it on the upper surface adjacent to the mounting hole.

(3) The band was affixed to the resistor body via a compression weld near the DR script emboss.

(4) Two styles of bands have been seen on original cars from the era: one has a gently rounded end while the other approximates a straight-across cut. Most judges accept either subject to #5.

(5) The very center of the end of the mounting band (either rounded or straight) has a very small rectangular 'tab' protruding from it. This is thought to be the reminant of the first generation of progressive die, band forming machinery (a tear-away tab) that disappeared sometime in the mid/late 60's when assy tooling improved to simplify the band forming operation. Most NOS, in-box, GM service replacement parts lack the 'tab' as do the current reproduction parts.

(6) There are different strain relief cutouts on the side of the mounting band, adjacent to the ceramic body, just above the mounting tab. Most very early ballasts have NO strain relieve cut out. Others have a 'half-moon' shaped cutout. Still others have an '[-shaped' cutout. The exact sigificance of these differences in not understood....