Do I need the ballast resistor?

[green69rt]

Got my old ballast out and it's usable but pretty ugly.  $40 for a new repro or $10 for a generic replacement.  I haven't chosen the rest of the ignition system yet so the question is - do some require the ballast and some not?  Which is which?  I've always used the ballast so it's not a problem to leave it in, the wiring is already there.

[Kern Dog]

One way of looking at it was....As CHEAP as Chrysler was with many things, IF they thought that eliminating the ballast resistor was  a way to save a few bucks per car with NO ill effects, they would have done it. I still use them even with the electronic ignition.

[A383Wing]

yes, if you are running points or Chrysler's electronic ignition, you still need the ballast resistor....it's there to protect the coil by cutting the voltage down.

There are some ignition systems and coils out there that don't require a resistor....MSD for one....what I did was just pull the resistor and connect the two wires together

Bryan

[b5blue]

Many forget 70 back is pre electronic ignition, no ECU originally. My Firecore dizzy and coil needs none of that ECU/resistor stuff. 

[green69rt]

These posts are why I asked th equestion.  I see a lot of folks on here going to the Firecore system or the MSD.   just thinking...