By pass ballast resistor with MSD

A few years ago we installed a complete MSD ign system in the 64 polara..512 cid ...has run fine but we kept the ballast resistor..I'm sure I read the instructions and would have by passed it if I was told to..but now I'm hearing not to use the resistor..so do I just connect the 3 wires together.. It's a 2 prong resistor ,but one side has 2 wires..

i just made a jumper and pluged it inplace of the resistor. Didn't want to cut the harness ends off

Thanks Doug ,thats how I would do it..Question is ,do I by pass it with the MSD ign ?

Which MSD system did you get? I know for sure their multi-spark boxes do not require you to use a ballast. They have a circuit in them to limit current to the coil, thereby making a ballast useless.

I have never used a ballast with any electronic ignition and aftermarket coil. My local speed shop has been building mopars for over 35 years. He never uses a ballast resistor with electronic ignition. I use the blue HP voltage regulator, constant 13.5 volts.. I've never had a problem. Car has never skipped a beat. Just check your coil. MSD blaster says in there paper work not to mount it lying down, as a stock mopar would. If i'm going for a stock look i use MP coil.

After you take out the resistor, open up the plugs.

Even with a resistor, I gap plugs on capacitive discharge ignitions of any brand at .040
Been doing that since the Delta Kits in the 70's without an issue.
Craig

i recently made this change after running my msd6al with the resistor that came with my blaster2 coil for a couple of years. i removed the resistor from the back and replaced it with HEAVY gauge wire. now it looks stock"ish" and i didn't have to cut up my harness.

Could any of tell a difference after the bypass?

yup. ran smoother

IT is a common myth that the resistor has to be removed with msd.

If you wire the MSD as per the instructions, it specifies that a ballast is not used with msd. true. BUT it also specifies that the old coil + wire can be used as the switch on wire for the msd unit, AND that the reduced voltage on that wire,will turn on msd.(the msd is supposed to be wired directly to the battery for its main power feed, not the old coil + wire. The old coil wire is now used as an on signal)

What is meant by the statement that there is no ballast used with msd, is that there is no ballast resistor in the coil positive wire between the msd unit and the coil, not that the one on the car has to be removed.

The last MSD I installed even specified, that it may be necessary to install a ballast in the on trigger wire, because even a small amount of voltage on that wire( a couple of volts), will keep the msd on, and may cause a situation where turning off the ignition switch won't shut the car off.


It'll work either way, and many run without the factory resistor, and many run with it, but if a change in running is experienced with the ballast removed, there was something else wrong prior to removing it.