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Tech Talk => Engine Mechanical / Electrical => Topic started by: Jetboat949 on June 16, 2017, 03:56:04 PM

Title: Stupid question...
Post by: Jetboat949 on June 16, 2017, 03:56:04 PM

What's this?  Is it an old ground block?  I'm putting in a HEI distributor and don't need a coil anymore.

Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: Jetonthewater16ft on June 16, 2017, 04:35:44 PM

Older electrical ballast resistor


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Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: Jetboat949 on June 16, 2017, 05:29:38 PM

What's it for?  Worth replacing or do I need it?


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Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: placecraft jess on June 16, 2017, 07:10:57 PM

If you run an hei you don't need it it would help stop the points from burning up in that kind of ignition


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Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: Jetonthewater16ft on June 16, 2017, 10:21:15 PM

Exactly, you definitely want to keep it if your still going to run points


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Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: Jetboat949 on June 17, 2017, 10:18:47 AM

What do you mean running points?  Sorry


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Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: placecraft jess on June 17, 2017, 11:23:00 AM

The ignition you have now has points if you go to an hei are any other high energy ignition (msd) for example they don't use points the white thing in your picture is a ballast resistor it protects the point especially if the key is left on sorry I don't understand exactly how just know it dose


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Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: Jetboat949 on June 17, 2017, 06:53:08 PM

The blue distributor in the picture is the old one. I have a new Davis unified ignition HEI distributor. So because I have the new distributor I don't need the ballast resistor anymore?


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Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: 76Challenger on June 17, 2017, 06:57:23 PM

If you now have an HEI ignition you do not need the ballast resistor. Only if you have the old style ignition with points under the distributor cap....

1977 Challenger

Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: aquaholic72 on June 18, 2017, 12:36:27 AM

The ballast resistor drops voltage,  so the points don't get killed,  usually down to 8-9 volts , if you left it hooked up with any other type of ignition HEI or anything other than a points distributor it won't even run..  Pull it off and store it with your old points distributor as a back up if ever needed in an emergency.. 👍👍

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Title: Re: Stupid question...
Post by: aquaholic72 on June 18, 2017, 12:45:29 AM

Also when I run HEI's I run them off a relay from direct battery power to insure it gets full voltage all the time, they can be alil silly if they're under powered. Not sure if everyone does that or not,  but I do.  Fwiw. 

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