Need help w/ mid year ballast resistor values - NCRS Discussion Boards

Need help w/ mid year ballast resistor values

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  • Duke W.
    Beyond Control Poster
    • January 1, 1993
    • 15610

    Need help w/ mid year ballast resistor values

    Okay, guys. As part of my ongoing research project on the single point ignition I need the resistance value of the late ballast resistor.

    In early '63 the "091" coil was used in conjunction with the 1931385 ballast resistor, which had been in use, it appears, since the first 12V system in '55. As a running change for the 250 and 300 horsepower engines the coil and resistor were changed to the "087" and 1957154 respectively, however, SHP and FI engines continued with the early combination. The change in parts for the base engine shows up as a change to the '63 AIM Sect. 7 Sheet 7.00 on 2-12-63. The 091/385 coil/resistor combination continued through '64 for SHP and FI, while the 087/154 combo continued for the base and HP engines through '64. In '65 the 087 coil was replaced with the 202 coil, which had very similar electrical specs. The 202 was used for all point ignition applications and became a service replacement for all previous 12V coils. The 154 ballast continued through '67, but was replaced (I believe) by a resistance wire in the harness beginning in '68. (Of course, none of this applies to K66)

    So, now that you have enjoyed this bit of historical trivia and/or are confused and disinterested, here is my question. What is the resistance value for the late (154) ballast resistor? My '63 lists the ballast as 1.4 to 1.62 ohms, and I assume this applies to the 385 ballast since it was used across the board in early '63 when the shop manual was printed. For those of you with a '64 to '67 shop manual it should have different values. Can you check them for me and post the value(s) along with the source. They should be listed in the specifications for section 6Y,

    BTW, the 385 resistor is listed in my parts catalog as having .03 ohms, which is an obvious error. This is the resistor with the black dot. The 154 resistor is listed at 1.8 ohms, but the shop manual may list a different value or a range since the resistance varied somewhat with temperature. The 154 is identified with a blue stripe. This relatively crude indentification scheme was used to differentiate the resistors visually as they had no other distinguishing characteristics. The only difference was in the detail of the resistance wires to obtain the different values. All your input is greatly appreciated.

    Duke
  • Ed Jennings

    #2
    Re: Need help w/ mid year ballast resistor values

    I cannot find a value for the ballast resistor in the 67 service manual, or for that matter even an acknowledgement that it exists. For what it's worth. the resistor on my 67 reads 1.4 ohms. It is a Delco-no idea what part number.

    Comment

    • motorman

      #3
      Re: Need help w/ mid year ballast resistor values

      duke my records show that the black dot resistor was .3 ohms. these are hand written notes. .45 ohms for transistor ignition. std ignition was 1.4 ohms. i most likly checked them with a ohm meter.

      Comment

      • Wayne M.
        Expired
        • March 1, 1980
        • 6414

        #4
        Re: Need help w/ mid year ballast resistor values

        Duke --- Not sure if this is what you need, but here's what I find in the '63 Shop Manual (to agree with your data and to decipher the format used in the '65 shop manual).

        '63 (spec's pages, at end of book) coil "091", ignition resistor "ballast", ignition resistance 1.4 to 1.62 ohms. [no part # given for ign. resistor].

        '65 shop manual / spec's pages, at end of book: coil "202", Ignition resistor "fixed in wiring" [this must be an error], Resistance 1.8 ohms. [no part # given for ign. resistor].

        For the "207" TI coil ('65 shop manual) they show: Ignition resistor "fixed in wiring" [correct this time], Resistance 0.43 to 0.68 ohms.

        Comment

        • Kenneth S.
          Expired
          • July 31, 1981
          • 302

          #5
          Re: Need help w/ mid year ballast resistor values

          The '64 Shop Manual lists the Ballast Resistor value at 1.4 - 1.62, the same as the '63.

          Comment

          • Dale Pearman

            #6
            Re: Need help w/ mid year ballast resistor values

            These are measurments at 75 degrees F. Resistor with dot-0.3 ohms. resistor with stripe-1.6 ohms. It should be noted that the ballast resistor was one of the most complicated parts of Corvettes. It is really an analog computer! The average energy delivered to the coil is dependent on RPM and temperature. It lets a lot of current go to the coil upon cold start-up, adjusts for battery voltage, adjusts for ambient temperature and also RPM. This is a wierd way to look at this device but, THINK about it!

            Varooom!

            Comment

            • Duke W.
              Beyond Control Poster
              • January 1, 1993
              • 15610

              #7
              Here's where we're at on the ballast issue

              It appears that the '63 shop manual spec is for the 154 (blue stripe) ballast eventhough it did not come into use until mid '63. Actual measurements of the 385 (black dot) indicate 0.3 ohms from two respondents.

              According to the parts catalog the 385 (black dot) ballast was used on all '55 to '62, 12V systems, so can some of you solid axle guys check your shop manual to see if a resistance spec is actually listed. The parts catalog says .03 ohms, which appears to be an obvious decimal point placement error.

              Thanks for all your input. I think I'm pretty close to getting this issue squared away. BTW, if you have a black dot resistor, check you point resistance frequently. This resistor creates a "hotter" spark, but the high primary current will shorten point life.

              Duke

              Comment

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