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resistor for points

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vinny View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vinny Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/28/2017 at 3:18pm
I am pretty sure the Canadian 6 cyl cars used Prestolite coils and the tractor I swapped with had the same with identical markings. 30+ years of reliable performance and tens of thousands of miles later proves it was OK. Granted, a 2 ohm Delco coil from a 67 232 American won't last long. Trying to get a correct one now though may prove to be difficult. I got one from NAPA that said no resistor required and the car did not start. I still have a spare 4 ohm coil and points should the Petronix fail. And there is the spare HEI that came from a Chev 250 at the junkyard that I will set up on a spare 232 engine. I doubt if the HEI could be used on the 196 though but there would be a Petronix conversion that would fit, Delco conversion running less money than for a Prestolite distributor.

What I need now is another 63 or 64 car without a power train.


Edited by vinny - Dec/28/2017 at 3:21pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/28/2017 at 5:38pm
The Canadian cars used more Prestolite in other areas as well. But I'd have to ask a Canadian to verify 
Wink

Do be careful of the GM 250 HEI - I have found that some will "bottom" on the oil pump drive - the flat part of the distributor ends a bit too soon and presses down on the oil pump when snugged down. I make sure the distributor bottomed fully in the block with NO gasket, then pull them back out and put the gasket on. On those that don't go down far enough I used an angle grinder to make the flats go up the shaft just a bit more.
Otherwise it's a simple and nice change. 
I have some later model 258 Motorcraft distributors (the sort used in the 1980s) if you need any or parts. 
Boy, I sure wish that I still had my 64 Rambler............ loved that car, and it was sooo reliable.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote auag85201 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/28/2017 at 7:18pm
are you saying the chevy hei distributer will work in the 196 rambler engine?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pacerman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/28/2017 at 9:01pm
Originally posted by auag85201 auag85201 wrote:

are you saying the chevy hei distributer will work in the 196 rambler engine?

A GM HEI will not fit a 195.6.  Joe
Happiness is making something out of nothing.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tomj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/28/2017 at 10:45pm
Originally posted by billd billd wrote:

Be very careful as a ballast resistor is NOT the same as a metal film or carbon resistor

GOOD POINT and i totally forgot that. thanks for the post!

plain RESISTORS, wirewound or carbon or whatever, resistance can be measured statically. 

but things called "ballast *", eg. ballast resistor, are usually positive-temperature-coefficient -- eg. resistance goes UP as they get HOT. the hotter it gets, current goes LOWER, so it self-regulates current, in a crude but effective way.

huge difference. billd, as always, remember the fine points.

the OEMs, though they were all a bunch of cheapskates, nearly always did good engineering, especially when you can know or guess their goals. there are coil+resistor (ordinary) systems, and coil-only, and coil+ballast systems. they all work. they all are compromises to solve some particular issue or other. 

the saving grace here is most of this stuff is quite tolerant of abuse/misuse (that OEM thing again) so lots of things "work fine" that ought not be. but if you made 100,000 of them that way, the failure rate would drive you broke. with just one car, you just buy a new part ever couple years!

1960 Rambler Super two-door wagon, OHV auto
1961 Roadster American, 195.6 OHV, T5
http://www.ramblerLore.com

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vinny Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/29/2017 at 12:01am
I previously unraveled a lot of harness in a 64 looking for a resistor wire and couldn't find any.

The Prestolite distributors whether for 196's or 232's have their caps held on by clips. Although they are quite reliable the last time I checked a tune up kit for one ran close to $100, including cap, rotor, points and condenser. Better to stay with the more popular Delco style with the hold down screws.

196 and 232 distributors as Joe has previously pointed out turn in opposite directions, and there are other differences.

auag85201 what problems are you having?

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote billd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/29/2017 at 9:39am
Originally posted by vinny vinny wrote:

I previously unraveled a lot of harness in a 64 looking for a resistor wire and couldn't find any.

The Prestolite distributors whether for 196's or 232's have their caps held on by clips. Although they are quite reliable the last time I checked a tune up kit for one ran close to $100, including cap, rotor, points and condenser. Better to stay with the more popular Delco style with the hold down screws.

196 and 232 distributors as Joe has previously pointed out turn in opposite directions, and there are other differences.

auag85201 what problems are you having?


199, 232 and 258 rotate clockwise as far as distributors viewed from the top.
196 counter-clockwise, in case people are wondering............ and it's a different animal anyway.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote auag85201 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/29/2017 at 10:03am
hi vinny...no problems yet...just wondering if there was an easy way to convert over to electronic ignition
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote vinny Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/29/2017 at 11:28am
Well, the beauty of not having a resistor wire makes it easier to install electronic ignition such as Petronix.

I was just on the www.petronix.com site. It seems that what I have always thought of as Prestolite they call Autolite and the distributor would have an IAT tag on it.

More than likely you have a Delco distributor and more than likely the Petronix module will be  an 1162A for Petronix I or 91162A for Petronix II. I have the 91162A on my 232 but I think they are also used for the 196. To be sure enter the distributor number as found on the attached tag and get the right one. If no number on the distributor you could call a Petronix rep as I did who I found very helpful and easy to talk to. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote auag85201 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Dec/29/2017 at 1:25pm
vinny....mine is a delco distributor 
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