Witch ballast resistor to get?

Posted By: Hoop

Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/13/11 05:58 AM

I'm needin a new ballast resistor for my 72 Dart, it did have points, then I got mopar electronic ignition conversion kit that had a new 2 plug ballast resistor, so I installed it, but now I need a new one, but I see thers more then one to chose from out ther!

Do I need to get a serten one or can I just pick any 2 plug one the auto parts has for my car?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/13/11 02:36 PM

the one with the MP chrome/orange kit has a nominal 1.25 ohms though you can get by with less sometimes quite a bit less & less ohms gives a hotter spark at the expense of longevity (within reason) & nothing is set in stone with this plus the new ones are not real close to their rated #. I'd say anything from .8 to 1.2 ish would work fine or even a bit less than .8 (.4-.6) esp if you carry a spare (ballast/coil) . Take your ohmmeter along with you & have your parts man set out what he has on the counter.

Posted By: mikemee1331

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/14/11 12:26 AM

what coil do you use?

Posted By: cudarroger

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/14/11 03:30 AM

What is the resistance on the old 2 pin (points style) resister?

Posted By: roadrunninMark

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/14/11 03:53 AM

this one -->

broom is stable, slight angle of attack

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/14/11 04:03 AM

Quote:

What is the resistance on the old 2 pin (points style) resister?

Alot of em change drastically over time always increasing. My orig /6 65 dart points one has 1.6 ohms

Posted By: Hoop

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/15/11 04:37 AM

Thanks for the help everbody, I belive I'll go with ballast resistor O'reilly has! Yell I had a prob. with my dart not long ago with the starter stayin enganged after key off & it was smokin the the batt. post befour I got the post off, So I think I may have that fixed so far with another key switch, but it caused a over chargen prob., got a VR & fix some other stuff & I think I might have it fixed if I put a new ballast resistor on it, the ballast resistor on the car got over hot & burnt on bottom & steel has a burnt smell comin from wear its at when runnin! its reedin 1.9ohm, the batt. at this point is readin 12.73v off & 14.11v wall running!

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/15/11 04:50 AM

Quote:

its reedin 1.9ohm, the batt. at this point is readin 12.73v off & 14.11v wall running!

1.9 ohms on the ballast is way too high. Voltage readings are good. If you turn headlights/ac etc on at a fast idle what do you show at alt and at batt?

Posted By: 451Mopar

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/15/11 09:37 AM

The big Mallory ballast resistor with the screw terminals works good and I have never burn't one out. It comes with the spade terminal adaptors so you can still plug the original connectors onto it.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MAA-700/

Posted By: Hoop

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/17/11 11:02 PM

Got me a new ballast resistor at O'reilly, it reeds 1.6 ohms, the smell is gone, but now I,m getting a little higher reedings on batt.
12.76v not running & 14.28v when running & today was also colder then last time I tested! So do you guys think thats to high or it may be ok?

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/17/11 11:44 PM

Your charging rate is pretty close but I would check it at a fast idle w AC/lites etc on. Your sacrificing some performance with that much ballast but if you cut that in half not sure if you'd feel it in the seat dyno (maybe) & you're good as is if you're ready to take a break from it.

Posted By: mikemee1331

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/18/11 05:10 PM

as Robert said it's a tad higher than you really need but i seriously doubt you'll ever notice any difference in spark especially if you're using a half-way decent set of wires.

Posted By: daniel_depetro

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/18/11 07:20 PM

Since you have electronic ignition why not completely ditch the ballast resistor?

Posted By: Sinitro

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/18/11 08:29 PM

Quote:

I'm needin a new ballast resistor for my 72 Dart, it did have points, then I got mopar electronic ignition conversion kit that had a new 2 plug ballast resistor, so I installed it, but now I need a new one, but I see thers more then one to chose from out ther!

Do I need to get a serten one or can I just pick any 2 plug one the auto parts has for my car?

Choice of ballast resistor value is dependent upon which coil you are running...
Many of the later aftermarket coils such as the Blaster series one can use a lower value (< 1 Ohms) and certain times it can be eliminated. If the coil is the OE Mopar one, you should use a ballast resistor..
The primary function of the ballast resistor is to limit current not input voltage to the coil. Also the ECU or ignition box plays a part depending upon its ON/OFF switching rate as well..

Just my $0.02..

Posted By: mikemee1331

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/18/11 08:40 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I'm needin a new ballast resistor for my 72 Dart, it did have points, then I got mopar electronic ignition conversion kit that had a new 2 plug ballast resistor, so I installed it, but now I need a new one, but I see thers more then one to chose from out ther!

Do I need to get a serten one or can I just pick any 2 plug one the auto parts has for my car?

Choice of ballast resistor value is dependent upon which coil you are running...
Many of the later aftermarket coils such as the Blaster series one can use a lower value (< 1 Ohms) and certain times it can be eliminated. If the coil is the OE Mopar one, you should use a ballast resistor..
The primary function of the ballast resistor is to limit current not input voltage to the coil. Also the ECU or ignition box plays a part depending upon its ON/OFF switching rate as well..

Just my $0.02..

X2..........again

Posted By: Hoop

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/20/11 02:10 AM

I did find a Mopar Performance Ballast Resistors 1.0ohms & it sead on the web site it was for orange ignition box, so its on the way in the mail!
Yell,reason I,m wondering is the alternator gauge is reedin barley high even after I took it for a test drive today up the road in back a short ways a cuple of times!
Wall running with lights on bright & heater on high at 1200 or 1300rpm batt. v. stayed about the same at 14,04v to 14.05v.
After settin for a day the votes are right on batt. chacked befour I started it today 12.58v

I just don't know way my alternator gauge won't settle in the center like it use to after it starts & runs for a min.

Attached picture 6975091-ampgage.jpg

Posted By: Hoop

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/20/11 02:33 AM

Um, what coil I'm running, I put a BWD Select Coil on it back in summer from oreilly!

Posted By: RapidRobert

Re: Witch ballast resistor to get? - 12/20/11 03:03 AM

Quote:

Wall running with lights on bright & heater on high at 1200 or 1300rpm batt. v. stayed about the same at 14,04v to 14.05v.

I just don't know way my alternator gauge won't settle in the center like it use to after it starts & runs for a min.

(1) what did the alt "batt" stud show and the blue sense wire at the reg? (2) batt has bad cell. high resistance in wireing (hot side and ground side) bad VR, VR not grounded, internal alt/brush issue. Start with the batt, slo charge it overnight then find a garage with an old fashioned load tester or easier is borrow a known good batt from one of your other Mopars EDIT the overcharging is unrelated to your ballast choice and the prob started when there was the meltdown so something got fried