ballast resistor

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cyclonbrian
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Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2021 3:22 pm

ballast resistor

Post by cyclonbrian »

All,

I put a comp 9000 electric distributor in my 1966. I cannot find the ballast resistor. Did a ballast resistor come on the 1966 calliente? If so was it in the engine compartment? Does anyone have a picture?


Thanks

Brian

comethead
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Location: Palmdale, CA

Re: ballast resistor

Post by comethead »

On my 1966 Mustang it was the pink wire going from ignition switch to the coil. It has a cloth covering under the dash so it’s hard to spot but under the cover it was a pink wire.

Joe
1965 Caliente HT- 289/4 speed
1964 Falcon HT- track car- 302/4 speed
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cyclonbrian
Posts: 49
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2021 3:22 pm

Re: ballast resistor

Post by cyclonbrian »

There is a larger diameter yellow wire going from the ignition switch to a factory cloth wire loom. Could that be it?

comethead
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Location: Palmdale, CA

Re: ballast resistor

Post by comethead »

I believe the cloth covered wire is the resistor.
If you can pull the cloth away a bit it should be pink.

Joe
1965 Caliente HT- 289/4 speed
1964 Falcon HT- track car- 302/4 speed
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popscomet
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by popscomet »

Back in the 90's,,my 71 bronco kept burning points,,,would be driving down the road it would just die pull over wait a few mins ,fire up and go....I worried with this thing til one day I cut that resister wire out of the harness,,ran a new wire but ran it thru a ballest resistor mounted on the fire wall,,,that took care of the problem,,I still have this old bronco,,have never replaced a set of points,What gave me the idea was ,I got to thinking about a 56 ford V8,they came with a Ballast resistor mounted right next to the coil,,,so I just did what FORD did yrs earlier,,,,,now always remember....when that resistor goes bad it will act just like a bad resistor wire,,,,,had a 56 ford kept dieing ,wait awhile resistor would cool off,it fired up and go,,,had a neighbor with a dodge,they had a resistor mounted on the firewall,,she cranked and cranked one morning,,,I felt of that resistor ,it was so hot it burnt my finger tip...changed it out ,she drove that ol dodge many yrs more....good luck POP
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pop/glenda

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Joe Travers
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by Joe Travers »

popscomet wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 4:38 pm
,,ran a new wire but ran it thru a ballest resistor mounted on the fire wall,,,that took care of the problem,
Just reading up on this remedy to run 12V to the 6V '63 blower motor, Pop. Something I need to track down tomorrow before it gets cold. I have a suspicion the old 6V motor may be fried. Thanks for the inspiration :D

Joe
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

popscomet
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by popscomet »

if you have been feeding a 6volt with a 12 volt power,,,,I would think it has finaly spun all it can..BET that rascal would blow your dress up for awhile ;;;;;When I converted my 6volt 9n tractor to 12 volt I used a resistor to the coil
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pop/glenda

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Joe Travers
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by Joe Travers »

popscomet wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:18 pm
if you have been feeding a 6volt with a 12 volt power,,,,I would think it has finaly spun all it can..BET that rascal would blow your dress up for awhile
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I bet!!! Nah, it didn't work when I bought it. Chasing down somebody else's boo-boo. Just hope it doesn't turn into a can of worms :?
Won't know until I start unwrapping tape.

Joe
Last edited by Joe Travers on Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Image

1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

comethead
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by comethead »

Great advice Pop!
When I wired up the Falcon I replaced the resistor wire with a new one just to be sure the dual points would survive.
I used this one
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/for ... istor,7052

Joe
1965 Caliente HT- 289/4 speed
1964 Falcon HT- track car- 302/4 speed
Image

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Joe Travers
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by Joe Travers »

comethead wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:34 pm
I used this one
https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/for ... istor,7052
Thanks for the link, Joe! May come in handy soon.

Joe II
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

popscomet
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by popscomet »

Joe Travers wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:08 pm
popscomet wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 4:38 pm
,,ran a new wire but ran it thru a ballest resistor mounted on the fire wall,,,that took care of the problem,
Just reading up on this remedy to run 12V to the 6V '63 blower motor, Pop. Something I need to track down tomorrow before it gets cold. I have a suspicion the old 6V motor may be fried. Thanks for the inspiration :D

Joe
what was 6volt in 63??
Image
pop/glenda

popscomet
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by popscomet »

I don;t mean to take over this thread,,,,,but just for grin n giggles !! has anyone ever ran a 8 volt battary >>>???
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pop/glenda

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Joe Travers
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by Joe Travers »

popscomet wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 7:06 pm
what was 6volt in 63??
Nothing. I was thinking about my old 9N (or was it 8N). Can't remember :(

Joe
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1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

popscomet
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by popscomet »

the 9n was 3spd,,,,,8n was a 4spd,,,,that's just one way to tell them apart,,,,
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Joe Travers
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Re: ballast resistor

Post by Joe Travers »

I reckon we took over the thread talking about old Ford tractors, of all things :oops:
8N, it had 4 speed. I remember that. You could stretch wire in 1st.

Joe
Image

1963 1/2 Custom Hardtop
342 stroker, solid roller, T-10, 3.55 posi

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