Well, I am really confused.
I had my Lucas "sport coil" crap out after about 150 miles. I want to have a
spare coil, and would not mind having a sport-type coil as my primary coil,
with the 1966 vintage original as the back-up. Since that coil died, I am now
pretty conscious that I ought to have a back-up.
Anyway, I went to the local speed shop. They had a Pertronix 1.5 ohm coil
that they gave me, then I looked at the box, and it said that the 3 ohm coil
is "proper" for street applications for 4 cyl. cars. So, I took it back.
They had no 3 ohm units.
I then bit the bullet and ordered from moss their pertronix coil that is
recommended for the TR4 and 4A (all the earlier ones too). It comes in the
mail a few days later and it is a 1.5 ohm coil as well!!!! The instructions
inside gave a little more info. It says that the coil can be used for RACING
applications on non-ballasted 4 cyl cars, but that for street purposes the
ballast resistor should be left in place. Well, I have no ballast resistor.
I called Moss, and they seem to think that this coil is appropriate for
non-ballasted street applications (and ballasted applications too!). I am
very concerned that I will be drawing twice as much power, frying the points
and cooking the coil.
So, I am not against the idea of adding a ballast resistor to the coil
bracket, but what size resistor should I use? I guess that I should use a 1.5
ohm resistor to get the overall resistance to 3 ohms. Is that true? What
model car should I ask for a resistor at the local NAPA? The speed shop has
seemingly expensive ($11) resistors in 0.85 and 5 ohms, maybe a 2 ohm as well.
I would think I could get it cheaper by not having it for "performance"
applications.
-Tony
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