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I just got my big block installed last week. I previously had a smallblock with an HEI distributor. I was running it with the tan wire that comes off of the ignition switch and hooking it straight to the HEI. The ballast resistor was long gone.
When I put in the big block I went back with the points distributor for more clearance. To get it running I wired it up straight just like the HEI. I knew it would burn up the points eventually.
Last night I picked up a ballast resistor from Autozone. I hooked the tan wire to one side of the ballast resistor and the other side I ran to the + side of the coil. The engine started but then I noticed a small amount of smoke coming from the resistor.
I hadn't wired one up in a long time so I dug out my 57 shop manual to see what was wrong. After looking it seems the wire doesn't go straight to the coil, but down to the starter and then back up to the coil. I totally eliminated that when I wired it up. I also have a mini starter and I'm not sure where I would run this extra wire to. It only has two threaded studs to attach the wires to. If I remember correctly some older starters have three.
Would not having this wire running to the starter cause the resistor to get hot?
Thanks for your time and help,
Joe
When I put in the big block I went back with the points distributor for more clearance. To get it running I wired it up straight just like the HEI. I knew it would burn up the points eventually.
Last night I picked up a ballast resistor from Autozone. I hooked the tan wire to one side of the ballast resistor and the other side I ran to the + side of the coil. The engine started but then I noticed a small amount of smoke coming from the resistor.
I hadn't wired one up in a long time so I dug out my 57 shop manual to see what was wrong. After looking it seems the wire doesn't go straight to the coil, but down to the starter and then back up to the coil. I totally eliminated that when I wired it up. I also have a mini starter and I'm not sure where I would run this extra wire to. It only has two threaded studs to attach the wires to. If I remember correctly some older starters have three.
Would not having this wire running to the starter cause the resistor to get hot?
Thanks for your time and help,
Joe