Ballast resistance

Tip!

Check that you have a ballast resistor, someone may have removed it! How do you know you have resistance? Well, here it is: 1953-58 has a ballast resistor in whitish porcelain between the ignition lock and the ignition coil it sits in the engine compartment. + (plus) on the ignition coil must be connected to this resistor. – (minus) on the ignition coil must be connected to the distributor. If you don't have this resistance, you get a very short life on the switch tips and the ignition coil. This is because the ignition coil is made for approx. 9-10 volts. When you use the starter motor, you send 12 volts to the ignition coil and then get a temporarily higher effect on the ignition, but it's only for a short while so it goes well.