Points to Electronic wiring question

Scaaty · May 23, 2007

VP AQ255a 280 GM 350. Going from Mallory Flatcap to Electronic Distributer. Have 3 wires off the coil now (ballast Resistor). I'm pretty darn good mechanical, but darn good at letting smoke out when it comes to electronics.
Have a purple and whitish wire on the plus side now, gray minus. Instructions are useless in this regard. Can/should I just bypass the resistor and hook existing wires, or just the purple wire to the plus. Just 2 simple wires come off the new distrubuter..thats not a problem. I can't see jack back there (camera fits nice!), and wires go right into looms. Any info appreaciated..thanks..heres a pic on the existing coil wires

bruceb58 · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

If you are not replacing your coil, you will still need the ballast resistor.

One wire is from your ballast resistor.
One wire is probably from the starter solenoid to bypass the resistor during start.
Not sure about the third wire. Hard to imagine bit it could go to an electric choke but not sure why it would becuase it would be getting ballst resistor voltage.

Does that help you?

EDIT: Do you mean the third wire is on the minus side of the coil? If so that is your tach wire. You should have another wire from the minus of the coil to your distributor.

Scaaty · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

No, ALL NEW STUFF! All the old is getting crap-canned..
The back two wires in the pic went to the plus side. Curly gray in forefront to minus. I have a separate choke wire so thats not a concern. Not sure where the tach gets its signal.
From what I can tell, is all I need is a constant 12v at start and ING to the + side on the new coil
(A+ in Auto shop, D- in Electric shop..my dad was a Radio/TV repairman, and said I never listened to him...guess he was right!)

bruceb58 · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

Your new coil will say if it needs a ballast resistor or not. If it doesn't, you won't need the wire that goes down to the starter anymore.

Scaaty · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

bruceb58 said:
EDIT: Do you mean the third wire is on the minus side of the coil? If so that is your tach wire. You should have another wire from the minus of the coil to your distributor.

So ya think the tach is that gray wire? And yes, I believe the blue wire off the distributer (old) went to the coil, but gotta check my notes to see which coil post.

Scaaty · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

bruceb58 said:
Your new coil will say if it needs a ballast resistor or not. If it doesn't, you won't need the wire that goes down to the starter anymore.

No ballast, all electronic now.
So your saying the starter wire is the 12v start supply, then its over to ballast at 9v for running, right? I need to go look at this some more today. I'm thinking just that purple wire is all I need to the plus side (and the gray on the minus, plus the 2 wires off the new distrub..

Scaaty · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

Looking at the book, its seems that the Ammeter wire might go to the coil?? I gotta figure this out some more..(I HATE electrical systems!)

bruceb58 · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

Scaaty said:
No ballast, all electronic now.
So your saying the starter wire is the 12v start supply, then its over to ballast at 9v for running, right?

That is correct.

Scaaty · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

On the new stuff destructions, its says to
"remove the ballast resistor. The positive wire on the BR is then installed on the + side of the new coil"

Seems this is all I need to do. Hook the rest of what wires are there back up. I was thinking to just connect the ballast wires together, bypassing the resistor..??
As long as I get a full 12v at start and ING, its should work (hah.."should" is a big a word as "if")

Don S · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

What kind of electronic ignition are you getting? The only electronic ign. I know of that needs the ballast resistor is the Pertronix, and I think a couple of Mallory.

Scaaty · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

The old Mallory flatcap (one of your favorites!) is being junked. it had a Ceramic Resistor.
The new is a (complete) Prestolite Electronic aftermarket, all electronic, no ballast. I was thinking all I need to really do is connect the old ballast resistor wires together, bypassing the resistor. That theoretically should have me at 12v at start, and still a full 12v at ING. There is no resistor wire, just the ballast block.

Reel Poor · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

It sounds to me like you have your thinking cap on correctly, today anyway.

Scaaty · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

I tend to over think way to much..then get confused...then put the straitjacket on for awhile.
What seems like a no brainer sometimes is. I just hate letting smoke out $300 parts, and I'm pretty good at it.

Don S · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

That purple wire is the only one you will need on the + side of the coil, you won't need that extra wire that goes from the starter to the + terminal on the coil. With the resistor gone, it doesn't do anything different than the standard voltage on the purple wire.

Scaaty · May 23, 2007

Re: Points to Electronic wiring question

WORKS!
I just jumped the resistor, and no major problems. Still have some little stuff to figure out. I'll start a new thread on it..(erratic tach at idle ..might have something to do with the jumped ballast?..., timing plate unreadable...nothing major..I took some pics)..I need to go over it again tomorrow..(damn back and knees are killing me!)
So far so good...thanks for all response.. so far so good for now.
(BIG diff from that Mallory Flatcap POS! ..like a new motor...the weights were junk on it)

Points to Electronic wiring question

Vice Admiral

Supreme Mariner

Vice Admiral

Supreme Mariner

Vice Admiral

Vice Admiral

Vice Admiral

Supreme Mariner

Vice Admiral

Honorary Moderator Emeritus

Vice Admiral

Vice Admiral

Vice Admiral

Honorary Moderator Emeritus

Vice Admiral