Ballast Resistor Location

[bowserhound]

Even though I have electronic ignition, can someone please tell me the location of the Ballast Resistor? The book only says it is in the engine compartment with a cover.

thanks

[bowserhound]

Ok, so trolling around the internet has led me to believe that the 65 models may or may not have these resistors? If so, they would be in a brown colored fiberglass cover mounted to the right inner fender just behind the battery.

So if this is true, and there is no resistors in my car, what would take their place? I am absolutely horrible when it comes to electrical stuff!

I'm thinking of just replacing the distributor, getting the pertronix conversion kit and a flame thrower and hoping something happens. Anyone have any reasonably priced good distributors in mind? I have only found 2; a $40 rebuild from kragen, or a $230 Mallory. Kragen has a single vaccuum, and a double vaccum. Which should I get if I go that route?

Thanks!

[bowserhound]

Wow, this is getting pretty mundayne talking to myself :)

Well, I figured out that I don't have the transistorized ignition, so I guess I don't have any ballast resistors in my car. And the distributor on my car is a single vacuum type. Now is it a single or dual points system? I don't know.

I'm also guessing that the correct pertronix Ignitor kit I need is part# 1281, and I should also get the 40011 (black-oil filled) flamethrower coil.

SO, without the ballast resistors, I should have a red wire going from the coil straight to the ignition switch, correct? And the ignition switch is just a fancy name for where you put the key in right?

[Harley Eaton]

Original equipment for the Thunderbird was a single point system, which can easily be verified by looking under the distributor cap. How many point sets do you see? The original equipment also used a resister wire to reduce the voltage at the points in the "run" condition. That is the reason why you need to run the red wire to the ignition switch - the place where you put the key..

[66tbird]

Do Not Change The Wire To Coil To 12 Volts. The Resistor Wire To Coil Needs To Remain. You Must Connect The Red Wire From Ignitor To A 12 Volt Ignition Source. It Will Smooth Out Idle

[Harley Eaton]

Is the information you are supplying here from instructions from Pertronix? There has been such discussion on the Digests about where the 12 volt source should be that I thought 12 volts would be required at the coil. You seem to be saying otherwise..

[bowserhound]

I have the ignitor instructions in front of me and it says the red and black wires go to the coil, and the remainingh wire goes from the distributor to the ignition switch (for cars without Ballast Resistor).

However, in the FAQ section, it says:

"How do I correct a low voltage problem?"
"First, if you have an external ballast resistor, connect the red ignitor wire to the ignition wire prior to the ballast resistor. Second, if you do not have a ballast resistor you must locate a 12-volt source that is controlled by the ignition switch to connect the red ignitor wire to."

The power window relay on the firewall should be a "on the key" 12V source, right? Where does your red wire from the Ignitor go Joe?

[66tbird]

i have a pertronix if you have a ballast resistor connect to 12 volt side of resistor without ballsat which is what i have pos side of coil has a resistor wire dropping voltage to about 4.5 to 7 volts (about) when running so red wire must go to 12 ignition source mine was connected wrong idle smooth out a lot

[66tbird]

i just saw bowserhound reply mine only has 2 wires black to neg or dist side of coil red 12 ignition source

[bowserhound]

So you're saying that you should assume you have a low voltage problem (according to pertronix) and go ahead and connect the red wire from the Ignitor to a 12V power source, right?

Where did you connect the red wire exactly?

[66tbird]

your car does not have a low voltage problem your pertronix ignitor needs 12 volts the reason your car runs better at higher rpm is the alt. is helping to raise voltage at idle its not putting out as much. it is normal for your coil to be lower than 12 volts. i conneted red wire to 12 volt under dash that worked with key on this forum i saw power window relay on firewall should have have12 volt keyed source must come on with key

[Joe Vandatta]

Bowser, I have a pertronix flame thrower coil . I'm pretty sure you have a 12 volt negative ground set up.

[bowserhound]

Thanks Joe, I'm replacing half of the electrical equipment in my engine compartment this weekend.

[Harley Eaton]

I have not seen any mention of this...shouldn't your 12 volt source be there during cranking? Is there power to the window safety relay while cranking? I would think not !

[66tbird]

While Working On My Tbird Today I Realized That The Power Windows Works With The Key In The Accesory Position. I Think This Would Put Power To Ignitor If You Used The Power Relay On Firewall You Not Want Power To Ignitor When Not Running