I just received an answer from MSD regarding the use of their "Blaster 2" coil with a Mopar ignition box. Here is the answer from their technician: Sir, The correct answer is as follows; Use enough resistance to keep no less then 7 volt and no more then 9 volts to the plus side of the coil. Hope this helps everyone on this issue. '65 Coronet 500 stroker -----Original Message----- From: laborboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tue, Aug 11, 2009 10:39 pm Subject: RE: MP Electronic Ignition - Ballast - Final I think you are right--my problem is the voltage drop, a problem with my charging system, not the ballast resistor (I am getting a 3-voltage drop with accessories). As you may recall, I "jumped" the resistor thinking the new Mopar Perf electronic distrib and coil wasn't getting enough voltage. However, the Jegs rep told me to leave the resistor in the loop or I would risk burning out the "module" inside the distributor. Apparently that has now happened, as my car will not start. I hope my warranty is still good, and that Jegs doesn't read this site. The ballast resistor that came with the kit is .8 ohm. Rich Kinsley wrote: > > Can you test your BR to see what ohm rating it is? I'm curious. I > suspect 1.5ohms. My car runs crappy with the 1.5ohm resistor. It runs > good with the .8ohm BR. It actually seems better with the .8 than with > it bypassed. > > The 3volt drop seems bad to me. At that rate you are discharging your > battery. Of course that's at idle and I assume it charges once you get > some rpm's going? Check the volyage at your battery. It shouldn't run > below 12volts. Usually you see 12.5 - 13.5 volts. Maybe a bit more even. > > You can pull the alt and have it tested. Mine had low output before I > did my upgrade. > > Rich Kinsley '64 Dodge Polara 4dr 318poly w/goodies > ===================================================================== > laborboy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote: > > > > I was off the site for about a week due to travel and when I returned, > > to my great surprise, we were still talking about ballast resistors! > > What a wonderful site, and a great group of guys. Dennis and others, > > thank you for your continued research. > > > > I spoke to a Jegs rep, and asked if I needed the B.R. included in the MP > > > > > > kit since I also bought a separate new MP coil. He said yes, that the > > circuitry in the distributor needed the lower voltage or would > > eventually go bad. > > > > I told him about the voltage loss problem, and the car cutting out at > > idle: He said it was more likely a problem with my alternator or my > > electronic system. He also claimed that the B.R. lowered the voltage to > > distributor, not the coil. But I didn't understand that because the wire > > > > > > from the passenger side of the B.R. runs directly to the positive > > terminal on the coil--not to the distributor. The instructions have me > > hooking up the wire from the driver's side of the B.R. to the > > distributor box, which does not have lowered voltage. So, I was still > > confused. > > > > But I did run a series of voltage tests: > > > > B.R. used, engine cold > > B.R., drivers side At + coil > > -Ignition on 10.75 3 > > -Idling 12 6 > > -Idling w/ > > acc on, in drive 12 4.5 > > > > B.R. bypassed, engine warm > > B.R., drivers side At + coil > > -Ignition on 10 9.3 > > -Idling 13.8 13 > > -Idling w/ > > acc on, in drive 10.3 9.7 > > > > I don't understand how they could have me use the B.R. with this new MP > > coil, because it's only getting 6 volts bypassed. Someone else here said > > > > > > it needs 9-11, which it is getting when bypassed. > > > > The drop in voltage is about 3v in drive with air conditioning, lights > > and radio on--is that excessive? > > > > Rich Kinsley '64 Dodge Polara 4dr 318poly w/goodies ---- Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person. I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks! '62 to '65 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines: http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ---- Please address private mail -- mail of interest to only one person -- directly to that person. I.e., send parts/car transactions and negotiations as well as other personal messages only to the intended recipient, not to the Clubhouse public address. This practice will protect your privacy, reduce the total volume of mail and fine tune the content signal to Mopar topic. Thanks! '62 to '65 Mopar Clubhouse Discussion Guidelines: http://www.1962to1965mopar.ornocar.org/mletiq.html.