Ignition resistive wire replacement (small block points ignition)

Hi all,
I need to replace the resistive wire (white/lilac) from ignition to coil on a small block with points ignition,
Was thinking of replacing it with a ballast resistor but not sure what type to use?
Read somewhere it should be 0.9ohm, but I can only find ones that say 1.5 or 1.6ohm like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LUCAS-TYPE-BALLAST-RESISTOR-1-6-OHM-IGNITION-COIL-CLASSIC-TRIUMPH-AUSTIN-47222-/261319911135?hash=item3cd7e166df:g:nXkAAOxy2YtRwxwA

That says "used in ignition circuits where the ignition coil is 9 volts", would this work?

If not does anyone know the best way to go about this? i.e what wire to use to directly replace the white/lilac wire without a ballast resistor? Or any other ways?

Appreciate any help
Cheers






 

Hi, If you have the standard coil which from Haynes is 1.7 - 2.1 ohms a 1 ohm ballast should be okay but don't replace the lilac and white wire with anything too light.

I think I would be tempted to do away with the ballast and have a standard 12v coil, have you got one you could try, or borrow one. I used to run an old 895cc Polo which didn't have a ballast resistor and started okay but did start and run much better on super unleaded.

Cheers

Hi cheers for the reply, it's for a mates mk2 polo I've been working on which has obviously had a lot of bodging over the years…

I've since found that the white/lilac wire has been cut halfway along then spliced with 2 random grey wires to the coil

For now I've just spliced the white/lilac wire back together but I'm only getting about 8 volts down at the coil

I've also noticed that it's got a normal 12volt coil fitted with about 3.4 ohms primary.. so that needs to be changed

I did then think about getting rid of the ballast, but I was under the impression that running a 12v system can burn the points out pretty quick?

Cheers

As far as I know, and we'll soon find out if I'm wrong, the ballast resistor ignition system just aided starting, particularly from cold, it had no effect on the points.

You still have the white/lilac resistance wire in the circuit, with a couple of joints by the sound of it, and that's why you only have 8v at the coil, although it should be nine or thereabouts. You could either fit a 9v coil and leave the wiring as is or do away with the white/lilac wire etc and run a normal wire in it's place, keeping the 12v coil, personally I prefer the simple life and would go for the 12v option.

 

Cheers mate the coil itself looks pretty new, I think a lot was replaced when numerous people were trying to get it running… so I'm going to see if he's got the old coil stashed somewhere could be a 9v one.

I'd probably do the same with the 12v option if I were keeping it, but I'm just sorting it to sell so not too fussed!