Swapping to a Pertronix, wanna lose the ballast resistor

Engine, transmission, rear-end, driveline, fuel system etc..
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Cris
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Swapping to a Pertronix, wanna lose the ballast resistor

Post by Cris »

To clean up the firewall, have to run fewer wires (getting into my stem to stern re-wire) and less stuff to release the smoke monster with.
Searched thru 7 pages of pertronix posts , saw it mentioned a couple times, that it's not needed anymore if you do the swap, but what wires end up where.?

Thanks for the help in advance & happy holidays.

Cris

carterkid63crew
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Re: Swapping to a Pertronix, wanna lose the ballast resistor

Post by carterkid63crew »

i did the pertronix upgrade a while ago on my poly 318 before i pulled it for my cummins swap. I used there higher output blaster coil as well. The reason the the ballast resistor is eliminated is because in a factory ignition setup (with a 6 volt coil) the resistor drops the voltage from 12 to 6ish volts so the factory coil isnt harmed. I used a higher voltage coil as i said so i just cut the terminal ends (that would connect to either side of the resitor) and spliced them together. If your not switching coils i believe you would leave the resistor in there. hope this helps Carter

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BW68d100318
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Re: Swapping to a Pertronix, wanna lose the ballast resistor

Post by BW68d100318 »

The instructions in the Pertronixs kit specifies removing the ballast resistor, as described above by carterkid63crew, or retaining it if you desired. I removed it when I installed the pertronix kit on my '68 D100 318, and I plan on eliminating the ballast resistor when I receive my Pertronix ignitor II kit for my '70 W200 383. One less part to fiddle with. BTW the 318 runs amazing with the ignition 17-22 mpg out of a 4 speed, 3.73 gears. I'm excited to see what I can get out of the big block four wheel drive. I'm shooting for 15. I'm getting the itch to put two 66 mm turbos on it.

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Re: Swapping to a Pertronix, wanna lose the ballast resistor

Post by lbman »

I was going to do the Pertronix upgrade but make sure distributor bearings are Good. my dist. was shot so" I think" :banghead which is easier was to take a half day off work, go the the last U Pull yard I know of, Ferrell's in Mt Vernon WA. found one last Mopar Pickup, 80's salvaged the 5 prong plug and enough wiring harness which fits on the ECM box and upgraded the 64 W200 to 80's....after all said and done it works great!!!!!the truck has never ran this strong. for the P.O.S. it is. body wise. now I am gong to rip it apart and scrap it out. I need running gear for the 63 ambulance. I do not want a slant six .I want to be able to use it for a hunting rig and pulling the passes from Deming to Eastern WA with a slant six sounds like a horror movie in the making to me.
LB

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