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Beau Dirt
Beau Dirt
Minneapolis, MN
(35 posts)

Registered:
05/02/2012 03:23AM

Main British Car:
1973 Morris Mini, 1930 ford Model T, 1926 Model T 1 liter Suzuki and Four 215's

Olds 215- Do I need a ballast resistor wired in?
Posted by: Beau Dirt
Date: August 02, 2015 06:13PM

Finally getting my 215 powered Model A going. I ave been wiring it. It seems like the coil might be getting hot, but I'm not sure. Maybe it's normal? Just making sure I didn't forget something. right now I just have a wire from the ignition on positive terminal to the positive on the coil. Is ths wrong?
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88v8
Ivor Duarte
Gloucestershire UK
(1041 posts)

Registered:
02/11/2010 04:29AM

Main British Car:
1974 Land Rover Lightweight V8

Re: Olds 215- Do I need a ballast resistor wired in?
Posted by: 88v8
Date: August 03, 2015 04:35AM

Remove the coil connections, put a meter across the +/- terminals and check the resistance.

If it's a standard 12V coil you'll see around 3 ohm, and that doesn't need a ballast.

But if you see 1 - 1.2 ohm then it requires a ballast. In that case you should also make a direct 12V connection to the coil for starting - take a feed off the starter terminal.

Ivor


Beau Dirt
Beau Dirt
Minneapolis, MN
(35 posts)

Registered:
05/02/2012 03:23AM

Main British Car:
1973 Morris Mini, 1930 ford Model T, 1926 Model T 1 liter Suzuki and Four 215's

Re: Olds 215- Do I need a ballast resistor wired in?
Posted by: Beau Dirt
Date: August 06, 2015 09:21PM

OK. I understand the need for a wire from the starter to the coil. The stock Olds 215 wire diagram shows a resistor wire, so I know I need one. My question is what size? How are the rest of you doing this? Are you running coils with a built in resistor?


88v8
Ivor Duarte
Gloucestershire UK
(1041 posts)

Registered:
02/11/2010 04:29AM

Main British Car:
1974 Land Rover Lightweight V8

Re: Olds 215- Do I need a ballast resistor wired in?
Posted by: 88v8
Date: August 07, 2015 09:44AM

This is a ballast.
[www.flyingspares.com]
Probably the most expensive you could find.

Here's another.
[www.ebay.co.uk]
I bet they're pretty much the same.

What resistance did you see across your coil?

Ivor.


Beau Dirt
Beau Dirt
Minneapolis, MN
(35 posts)

Registered:
05/02/2012 03:23AM

Main British Car:
1973 Morris Mini, 1930 ford Model T, 1926 Model T 1 liter Suzuki and Four 215's

Re: Olds 215- Do I need a ballast resistor wired in?
Posted by: Beau Dirt
Date: August 07, 2015 04:56PM

I ended up getting one at O'Reilly Auto. Part number RU6. The price was $6. Maybe this will help other in the future.


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