Olds 215- Do I need a ballast resistor wired in?

[Beau Dirt]

Finally getting my 215 powered Model A going. I ave been wiring it. It seems like the coil might be getting hot, but I'm not sure. Maybe it's normal? Just making sure I didn't forget something. right now I just have a wire from the ignition on positive terminal to the positive on the coil. Is ths wrong?

[88v8]

Remove the coil connections, put a meter across the +/- terminals and check the resistance.

If it's a standard 12V coil you'll see around 3 ohm, and that doesn't need a ballast.

But if you see 1 - 1.2 ohm then it requires a ballast. In that case you should also make a direct 12V connection to the coil for starting - take a feed off the starter terminal.

Ivor

[Beau Dirt]

OK. I understand the need for a wire from the starter to the coil. The stock Olds 215 wire diagram shows a resistor wire, so I know I need one. My question is what size? How are the rest of you doing this? Are you running coils with a built in resistor?

[88v8]

This is a ballast.
http://www.flyingspares.com/shop/rolls-royce-bentley-shadow-t1-t2-corniche-mpw/ignition/shadow-t-1-twin-point-distributor-cap-leads/main-components/twin-single-point-distributor-ue34105.html
Probably the most expensive you could find.

Here's another.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/171518781908?hlpht=true&hlpv=2&rlsatarget=&adtype=pla&ff3=1&lpid=122&poi=&ul_noapp=true&limghlpsr=true&device=c&chn=ps&crdt=0&ff12=67&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff14=122&viphx=1&ops=true&ff13=80
I bet they're pretty much the same.

What resistance did you see across your coil?

Ivor.

[Beau Dirt]

I ended up getting one at O'Reilly Auto. Part number RU6. The price was $6. Maybe this will help other in the future.