'58 Correct Ballast Resistor

[Ted S.]

Is this the correct ballast resistor configuration for my '58? I've seen alot of different versions with the tab on the bracket.

[Mike M.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

that would work for me as it lacks the notches on each ends.mike

[Donald S.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

Ted,

That's the correct resistor; I had an "issue" with the "second team" judges at the Nationals who were claiming I should have the notches but I called in Tim Mickey and along with the photo's that Dennis Sagamang had, they agreed that the "no notch" resistor was correct for '58.
I've been following your progress here...keep it up!

Don

[Mike E.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

Fill everyone in if you will--where are the notches on the incorrect ones?

[Ted S.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

Mike, the difference is the trough or notches for the terminals run clear to the end of the ceramic like in this picture off of ebay.

Also notice the difference in the mounting strap end and cutout. In the archives Jack Humphrey wrote that their were two types of ends with the tabs. You can see the difference in those in these two pics. One is rounded and the other is more squared.

Also the strap can either not have a cutout, a half moon cutout, or the U shaped cut out in this picture. I can't see it real well but the first picture looks like it may have the half moon cutout in the mounting strap.

[Roy B.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

My 55 Corvette

[Mike M.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

My 55 Corvette

i favor the bracket without any cut-outs(like roy's photo) for the 1955 model year. for the 56 and 57's i favor the bracket with the thumb-nail/half moon cutouts. mike

[Ted S.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

Mike, What type of cutout for late '58? Thanks Ted

[Mike M.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

haven't ever owned a 58 to 60 so can't say for sure, but the thumb nail/half moon is what i'd use if nobody can say for sure.mike

[Doug F.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

here are 2 styles of the no cut out resistors the one on the right i marked 56 vet years ago, the one on the right i don't know anything about, it is exactly like the other except for the 1/2 moon cut out near the attaching screw, would both be considered ok ?

[Jack H.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

When I walk/stalk the scrap yards, this style of ceramic + band is what I commonly see on '58 and earlier cars. NOBODY makes a correct repro ballast and there are several reasons why.

Yes, the ceramic underwent a change with early resistors NOT having the 'trough' running all the way to the ceramic's outer ends. That's associated with a running change to 'improve' the durability of the ballast and the old/original tooling for this ceramic is history now!

Basically, the wiring mounting screws thread into an insert that's press-fit into the ceramic. The early resistors had inserts with a single fold-over tab to lock them into position and the tab was crimped into the 'trough' in the ceramic located between the insert and the center/band area of the ceramic.

With age, the crimp tab could deteriorate and fracture. Then, when you went to attach a lead wire to the resistor, the insert was free to 'spin' and the screw fail to torque down nice and tight.

The improvement was to extend the 'trough' in the ceramic all the way from the top center to the outer ends. That allowed the use of inserts with TWO fold-over crimp tabs. You wound up with belt and suspenders since it took BOTH of the insert's mounting tabs to break before the insert could free-spin when the wiring retaining screw was torqued down...

[Timothy B.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

Jack,

What year did the trough begin and the "U" shaped cut out in the bracket??

[Jack H.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

The earliest I've seen resistors with full length trough is late '58. As far as the 'cutout' in the band goes, I'm not sure if that's a visual ID issue or not (other cars/trucks also used ballast resistors and actual characteristics changed: e.g. mounting methods). So, the side cutout 'may' have been another form of on-the-line visual identification to distinguish the different versions of the ballast. But, that's just a guess....

[Ted S.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

Don, Thanks for the encouragement. Which cutout does your ballast resistor strap have on it (none, half moon, U)? Thanks Ted

[Donald S.]

Re: '58 Correct Ballast Resistor

Ted,

My resistor has no depression or cutout, but it is not original to the car. Mary Jo supplied me with what she termed as 'correct" for my application. As I mentioned it passed the scrutiny from the Team Leader at the Nationals when asked if it was correct; "damn nice example" is what I recall. From my experience, the judges were looking for no "notches" on the ends, the Delco Remy logo and the rough "tang" on the bracket. I see the cutout is mentioned in the JG but I've never had it come up.

Don