Moparchat - Home of MOPAR enthusiasts worldwide!



Go Back   Moparchat - Home of MOPAR enthusiasts worldwide! > Technical Forums > Performance Talk

Click here to search for Mopar cars and parts for sale.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-12-2002, 09:50 AM
FASTDARTCHESTER FASTDARTCHESTER is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: detroit
Age: 46
Posts: 385
Default Mopar Performance electronic ignition

Guys/Gals,

Fired the rebuilt 318 up for the first time on Saturday. Fired immediately and I ran it in for the recommended 30 minutes at 2500 rpm.

I shut it down and let it cool for another 30 minutes but left the ignition in the run position (by mistake). I tried to restart and the car wouldn't (battery was fine, cranked strong). After inspecting, I noticed the ballast resistors (I am using a MSD Blaster coil) were so hot they sizzled water, and I don't remember them being that hot (i know they get hot, but i didnt remember that hot!)

So, I swapped in another set I had and she fired right up. Any idea what this could be? What is actual factory coil voltage after the ballast? I was reading like 9 volts after the ballast voltage drop.

thanks
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-12-2002, 03:03 PM
ehostler's Avatar
ehostler ehostler is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Annandale, VA
Age: 57
Posts: 15,212
Default

If I recall correctly, you shouldn't be running a ballast resistor with the MSD coil. The MSD coil should be able to handle full voltage.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-12-2002, 03:27 PM
FASTDARTCHESTER FASTDARTCHESTER is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: detroit
Age: 46
Posts: 385
Default

MSD supplied a 0.8 ohm ballast with the coil and says it MUST be run in series with the stock ballast.

Seems the coil should have 12 volts to me also.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-12-2002, 03:49 PM
John Kunkel John Kunkel is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: NorCal
Age: 80
Posts: 10,059
Default

Ballast resistors are a thermal resistor, they are encased in ceramic because they run hot. At night you can often see the glow of the element reflect off of the shiny firewall.
They normally have higher current flow when the engine is at low speed and zero is as low as you can go so I wouldn't be surprised that one burned up under those conditions.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-12-2002, 03:54 PM
FASTDARTCHESTER FASTDARTCHESTER is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: detroit
Age: 46
Posts: 385
Default

wow, i'll check the resistance tonite and let you know.

thanks for the tip!!!

Tom
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-12-2002, 07:45 PM
timty2's Avatar
timty2 timty2 is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: Pomona, CA USA
Posts: 134
Default

MSD makes a lot of coils, so, if they recommend running this resistor, then the coil must be designed to run at 9 volts.

I would double check the location of your resistor to make sure it is in a relatively cool spot. When you left the ignition in the run position, there was no air flow at all, which may have helped you to cook this one. Maybe in a race situation you can get away without running the resistor, but in a daily or street driver, you would probably burn the coil up pretty quick!

Run the resistor they recommend!

One other thought...

I know with the stock MP ECM setup, the resistor is bypassed only when the ignition switch is in the cranking/starting position, applying full voltage to the coil during startup (Since the starter is engaged, this gives whatever is left to the coil.) So, even a stock coil was designed to run with the ballast 99.9% of the time!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-12-2002, 08:55 PM
RALPH's Avatar
RALPH RALPH is offline
Inactive User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BROOKLYN NY
Posts: 50
Default mopar ign.

I JUST INSTALLED A MSD 6AL IN MY CUDA, INSTRUCTIONS SAY YOU DON'T NEED BALLAST RES. IF USING MSD BLASTER COIL WITH MSD IGN.. BUT USE BAL. RES. W/STOCK OR FACTORY TYPE IGN.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Mopar electronic ignition box failure? 340_GTS Performance Talk 14 09-01-2010 10:22 AM
Mopar Electronic Ignition Sys. BOB P Restoring your MoPar (Tricks & techniques) 5 08-24-2007 01:54 PM
Anybody switched to a mopar electronic ignition? uu1runner Vintage MOPAR chat 14 03-06-2005 11:24 PM
BB 440 mopar electronic ignition kit JoeM29 Rear Wheel Drive - Parts for Sale 1 01-10-2005 10:51 AM
Tachometer with Mopar electronic ignition moparmarc Performance Talk 10 02-25-2004 08:44 AM




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:41 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
. . . . .