Is it better to run the stock resistor wire or a ballast resistor, I have a Mallory 57 series dist. and a Procomp coil. The manual says to run ballast so I have been using the stock resistance wire (new engine harness). I was wondering if I was having voltage issues because of a rich condition so I was checking the voltage at the coil. If I check across the pos and neg side of the coil with the engine off I have 3.2 volt. If I check on the pos side of the coil and neg grounded on the block I get 4.6 volts. First of should I have the discrepancy between the two (coil neg and grounded neg readings) and second is that enough voltage to run decent? I have a ballast resistor and I suppose I could rewire and replace/bypass the resistor wire. Also it is normal for the engine harness to get warm right? Being that it has the resistor wire in there.

Thanks!
Bill

I don't imagine it matters which you go with. Unfortunately I can't quote average specs on coil primary resistance nor ballast wire / resistor resistance other than to say they both would be less than 3 ohms in most cases.

Both a ballast wire and a ballast resistor convert some of their power to heat and lower the coil current when the engine is running. The wire disipates it's heat along it's distance while a resistor dissipates all the heat from a single ceramic block. The block will get smokin hot while the ballast wire will get pretty warm at worst.

If you go with a ballast resistor, you'll probably want to change the resistance wire out for solid copper (similar to an HEI conversion power feed). If you do decide to do that, I'd recommend separating the firewall connector, and then use a suitable pick probe or similar to compress the retaininer on the connector so you can pop it out. Get a new connector pin, crimp it on to your new copper wire and snap it back in the hole.

the resistance wire should be OK without changing to regular wire and adding ballast. DONT do both voltage will be too low and will barely fire and foul spark plugs. how I know this? a buddy on his 63 vette had a mallory setup with 2 ballasts and he kept having carb problems(he thought)3 carbs later still ended up with gas fouled spark plugs - after I looked at it we removed one and Ohh baby it ran right then!

the resistance wire should be OK without changing to regular wire and adding ballast. DONT do both voltage will be too low and will barely fire and foul spark plugs. how I know this? a buddy on his 63 vette had a mallory setup with 2 ballasts and he kept having carb problems(he thought)3 carbs later still ended up with gas fouled spark plugs - after I looked at it we removed one and Ohh baby it ran right then!

Ya I ended up using the stock resistance wire and it worked great. I assume it is pulling less juice with the MSD box I just added as it does not even get warm now. My new issue is that I think my Cam is wayyy to big for my compression. I cannot get the Edlebrock carb to lean out at idle. I think I might try to drill the throttle blades or something as it never seems to want to stay on the idle circuit.

As side note..US GM used resistance wire...Aussie GM used a ballest restitor block.
The Aussie one was always the best alternative.