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Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for MORE wrenching? 
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| | | Forums66 Topics128,006 Posts1,055,268 Members48,418 | | Most Online14,466 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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on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down with Ads! Again, thanks! | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 116 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 116 | Hi guys, I am very electrically challenged. I just bought a 55 first series ton and a half that had been converted to 12 volts. Everything is diconnected as far as gauges, headlights, tailights and ignition switch etc...The only thing that has been done is a toggle switch runs from the coil through the toggle, then to the battery, so I am running 12V to the coil all the time when I switch it ON. Should I run that circuit through a resistor? There is one hanging on the firewall but isn't being used. The alternator has been hung on the 235 (with foot starter)and has a single wire running to the battery. It also has a shorting wire on it as well. Thanks for any input. It is much appreciated. Jim | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | ChetMan,
Lots of questions....the coil may be a internally resisted style which means your setup is OK. The case of the coil usually has some text on it that indicates weather a external resistor is required or not. Take a look!
The alternator could be a single wire unit in which case your wiring is fine. The test would be to see if the system charges when you start the truck and bring the engine speed up.
I'm not clear what you mean by 'a shorting wire' on the alternator, but it doesn't' sound healthy.
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,960 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,960 | | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 2,201 | another name for it is the exciter wire. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 116 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 116 | Hey guys, My coil is an old Delco Remy coil from a 1961 Corvair...It's probably for external resistance I guess. I don't remember anything on it when I put it on. The previous owner had a coil on it that a post kept popping out of, so I put on one from an Corvair. It runs great now, but ran crappy until I changed points. The points that were in it when I bought it were almost melted on the rubbing block and the steel had turned blue...that's what makes me think I may need some resistance somewhere...Hey, thank's for the diagram. That's how mine is wired...I called the short jumper from the #2 terminal to the battery a "shorting wire". | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | If you are burning points in a 12v ignition system, most likely the coil does not have an internal ballast resistor, and you need one of these. Tim | | |
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