Ignition coil question

[D S.]

What is or are the differences between a standard ignition coil and a B-R ignition coil? What is B-R?

Thanks,
Scott

[John H.]

Re: Ignition coil question

The "B-R" indicates that the coil is to be used with either a ballast resistor (up through '67) or a resistance wire ('68-'74) in the (+) feed circuit.

[D S.]

Re: Ignition coil question

John, can you elaborate further on this? Examples of 'ballast resistor' and 'resistance wire'? Where would the balance resistor be and where does the resistance wire go or come from?

Thanks again.

[John H.]

Re: Ignition coil question

John, can you elaborate further on this? Examples of 'ballast resistor' and 'resistance wire'? Where would the balance resistor be and where does the resistance wire go or come from?

Thanks again.

Scott -

Your '70 LS-5 has a distinctive woven cloth-covered resistance wire in the circuit from the ignition switch "on" position that feeds the (+) terminal on the coil, which reduces the car's 12 volts to 7-8 volts at the coil; pre-'68 Corvettes had a separate ceramic-encased wirewound ballast resistor mounted on the firewall that did the same thing. The reduced voltage to the coil results in longer life for the points; the coil only sees a full 12 volts when you're cranking, which comes through a separate 20-ga. yellow bypass circuit from the starter solenoid "R" terminal to the coil (+) terminal.

[D S.]

Re: Ignition coil question

Thanks, John. I forwarded your comments to several other B-R owners who may not have known either. Your descriptions have me wondering if I have the yellow wire on the (-) side and/or if it's connected properly to the starter solenoid.

Scott

[John D.]

Re: Ignition coil question

Scott,Most likely you have a 238 BR coil. It was at least used on 67 small V8's, Chev II, Chevelle, Camaro-except 302, 396 and also used on 67 -74 Corvette. As John said B-R is referring to ballast resistor. Oops. Forgot to mention the above info was supplied to me by Hinckley and others about two weeks ago. John D