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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | | Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 87 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 87 | Pulled her out and no spark from points / condenser dizzy.
Never had any problems and never paid much attention until now.
Coil has 12 volt printed on the side and there is a ballast resister on the hot wire from ignition to coil. I assume the resistor drops it down to 6 v.
12v conversion
Question:
Is this resistor necessary and if so why as the coil is 12v? | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 Sir Searchalot | | Sir Searchalot Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,983 | Yes
On a 12V system there is "bypass" wiring necessary. So the 12V coil has two inputs to indirectly power the points.. A full 12V input when starting because the starter draws so much and will rob the points of voltage/current. Then after start. the points run on a reduced/resisted voltage off the ballast input so they don't burn out.
So during start you "bypass" the ballast. Ballast drops voltage to approx 9V.
This is all accomplished by a side terminal on a foot starter switch OR an "R" terminal on a solenoid starter OR by an ignition switch with Ign 1, Ign 2 terminals.
A few years used a Looooooong folded "resistance wire" instead of a ballast resistor.
Last edited by bartamos; 03/18/2025 12:47 AM. Reason: clarification
Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it. - William Penn
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2019 Posts: 2,242 Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator) | | Herder of Cats, Goats, and Sheep (moderator) Joined: Jan 2019 Posts: 2,242 | Its been a while since we have seen you around.
Can you give us a quick refresher on what engine you are working on? | | | | | Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 87 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 87 | yes, its been a while. I have been lurking in the shadows. Now that I’m retired, i have more time and a 401k to play with.
Life has been interestingly problematic!!!
Sadly, the only work i’ve gotten done was to rebuild a bench seat using plywood and foam and refreshing some stock wheels. However, i have been in lots of parades!
I do believe Bartomas has answered- thanks much
Anywho, bartered my 51 away and still have my first, a 1954 3100 w/ 235 ci and a SM420 behind that followed by 3:55 in the third member. absolutely no plans on changing that. I even picked up a pair of 1954 235 power glide engines (which I hope to never have to use but they were free and wouldve been scraped)
I’m going to have a blast this summer tackling all the nagging problems plus desired upgrades. | | |
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