Andrew Mace wrote
Subject: Re: balist resistor (why)
> Chances are, unless the previous owner changed the coil to a non-ballasted
> coil you will need a ballast resister....
Yes, and no. Yes, assuming it is the OEM or OEM-type replacement coil,
you need a ballast resistor. No, you probably don't need to add one. IMS,
this vintage of Spitfire (U.S. version anyway) had the ballast resistor
"built in" to the wiring harness; there is no external ballast resistor
that one could point to and say 'there it is'. At least that's what I
recall from a 1973 Spitfire that used to hang around awhile back! ;-)
**********************************************************
Morning, all.
All this talk of ballast resistors has got me wondering about my Mk I Spit.
I plan on checking my Bentley/Haynes/Autopress manuals back at home tonight
for "the truth", but I am curious as to whether anyone has the answer at
their fingertips.
(1) My Mk I has the original Lucas 12 volt coil (which BTW polished up
awfully damn nice if I don't say so) and I was unaware/unable to
locate/completely braindead about the use of a ballast resistor. Just how
much more quickly will the points burn out without the resistor? I don't
recall ever dealing with this issue on any of my old American Iron vehicles
and certainly didn't consider it when rebuilding the Spit. Inquirying minds
want to know . . . . . . . . (2) What if I wanted to replace the Lucas coil
with an aftermarket coil (gasp! - a non-original part - he's a Godless
heathen), or maybe even an electronic ignition such as the Allison or Crane
unit? If the sole purpose of the resistor is to reduce the voltage during
"normal" running and is bypassed during starting, and the elec. ignition
systems reduce the voltage across the points to millivolts (as opposed to a
full 6 volts), then it sounds as though you would not need the resistor with
an elec. ignition system. Thanks.
Ross D. Vincenti
64 Spitfire 4
64 Porsche 356C Coupe
|