very important the ballist resistor, when you change to electronic ignition you'll need another one, they can be fustrating if one ever goes out, your motor will start for a second or two and die, makes ya think of all kinds of things being wrong but it turns out to be a simple ballist resitor
Ballast resistors help bypass all your electricity to the starter when you're starting up. That's why the radio doesn't work when you've got the key fully cranked over to start.
Also, if they go out, the symptom will be that as soon as the engine starts to run and you let the key go back to the run position, the engine will stop.
It's good to have a spare.
Joe
1971 4-eyed Shortbed D100 225 /6 727 AT 3.23 rear running on Sweet Lady Propane
Thank's for the info guys, Ya.. mine burnt out and I couldnt figure the problem out, I thought it was my carburator acting up. I bought two of them,..one for the glove box
so this wont leave me stranded again
you guys just save me. my truck has been sitting in my drive way for a week. i found this forum subject buy chance. and this is exaclty my problem. thanks a mill.
I put an electronic ignition system on, Petronixs, and didn't change the resistor, ran the positive to the positive side of the coil. It had battery power and wasn't reduced below 10v DC.
Roger wrote:I put an electronic ignition system on, Petronixs, and didn't change the resistor, ran the positive to the positive side of the coil. It had battery power and wasn't reduced below 10v DC.
Hey Roger,
what sort of pertronix did you use? got any pic of all the parts under the hood? i am thinking of using the dual point conversion on my 426 SW truck but am not that familar with all the details of the pertronix system - do i use an electronic voltage regulator or can i go old school and use a points type regulator? does it use a similar mopar electronic "brain" or is it all in the distributor?
Ben
Custom Sports Special
& High Performance Package
R E G I S T R Y
Ben, The kit that I used fits inside the distributor,under the stock cap. 2 wire hook up. looks stock. You remove the points and condensor and bolt in the unit, The part number on the box is 1381A, also bought a matching coil 40,000 volt part number 40011. also pertronix brand. I bought mine with a Year One gift certificate I won in a raffle at one of the car shows. Works fine so far.
Yes, I have changed nothing but the petronics package. The instructions indicated that I'd need to hook it up to 12v because the ballast resistor drops voltage to the coil, but I monitored mine at the coil and its at 12v at all times. I haven't had the chance to look at a wiring diagram yet to be sure. But the truck runs fine.
I just did the same as Roger with my MSD. My truck hasn't started in a while, and I checked for spark the other day and there was none. So I hooked up the MSD that was going on it anyway and whala! I hooked the 12v switched right to the old coil posotive and it ran fine. I took it for a spin and it ran good for about a mile just like last time. Then not so good. Once I got it pulled home, fired right up again and ran fine. Again! Just like last time. So I might try a new ballast and/or voltage reg. I wasn't sure if that two prong B/R was for the ignition or the wipers?
Roger wrote:Doug, Is it cutting off while driving?
Yeah, it dies and then runs real rough or won't start back at all. I think it could be fuel related too though. I haven't pulled the tank or even changed the filter since I got it!!! It sat for several years before I got it.
when it cuts off, do you have fire? pull a plug wire off hold it about 1/2 inch from the installed position and have someone turn the engine over and listen for the spark jumping. You may want to hold the wire with insulated pliers and be sure not to ground yourself to the truck. If you hear it arcing its not a fire problem,,, You can do the same thing with the coil wire if you have long arms.
I have an actual spark tester that you plug the wire into and clip on to the plug. That's how I determined it wasn't firing before the MSD hook-up. I'm really not too worried about it, the truck is going to be parked for a while longer, then when I do start in, it's gonna be a BIG one.