ballast resistor

G

grump

Junior Member
Hi, I just bought a 1948 pickup 8ab engine that is suppose to be rebuilt. I want to start it on a engine stand. Is there a resistor before the coil, and will a resistor from a 55 chevy work? I apologize to all the guys that gave me leads for my touring parts, I lost my job so I have cut back on my spending. Jim
 
Sonny, you are correct, 55 chevy is the first year for 12 volt in chevy. and thier 265 v8. it won't hurt if you put one on the coil.
 
I will have to agree based on experience, I'd put a resistor ahead of the coil. Test the resistor you have, around 1.5 ohms should be good. Also, sometimes the coil will say to use a resistor.
 
If your are using a 6 volt battery,and have a round coil that is 6 volt,no resister is needed.
If you have a 12 volt battery you need a 12 volt coil and 1.5ohm resister.
 
I don't know about the GM & other makes but FoMoCo used the same coil well up into the 12-volt era. The 12-volt vehicles used a ballast to control the amperage to the coil where the 6-volt vehicles didn't need one. The late type (1948/49 & later)round can coils were an improvement in technology and could take more heat than the old plastic covered iron core coils could.
 
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