Ballast Resistor D1110

[Nick M.]

I recently replaced the coil on my 63 FI Coupe to the correct 091 but need to try to find the corresponding Ballast Resistor D1111. Does anyone know of a source that may possibly have one? I believe the correct one has the black dot.

[James J.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1110

Bought my replacement from LIC with the black dot. About $20.00
look good a little too white on the porcelain but close.

[Nick M.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1111

Jim

Is the repop acceptable for judging?

[Dan H.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1110

The repro ballasts are not quite cosmetically like the real ones. They lack the unique shape of the mounting tang which has a square tab on the end. Function should be hopefuuly the same as the 1111. The 091 coil and the correct ballast with R45 plugs will help your plug problem. My 64 runs nice and clean, has been set up with a manometer etc. and is spot on. Nice long drives are great, then recheck you plugs for a reading of how all is working. Have fun!
Dan

[Nick M.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1110

Dan

Sounds like the repos will give me adequate performance but will not pass muster with the judges. I've been looking on EBAY for an NOS D1111 but they must be in fairly short supply as they only appear occasionally. Worst case I'll pick up the repo and at least the system will be matched up the way it should be. I had the wrong plugs, coil and resistor. Amazing that it ran at all, I guess!

[John D.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1111

Nick, My 63 which sat next to yours at Marlborough was running a NOS 087 coil, a D1111 NOS correct real deal ballast resistor. I will tell you the car starts with 1/2 turn of the fan. Well with the mismatched parts the old points were really getting some fire. Problem is I didn't have an original 091 at the time. Now I have a NOS one of those to put on next. Anyhow the D1111 is a beast in itself. Many old posts here on the configuration of the bracket or clamp that holds the porcelain in place. Don't waste money on a repro as it won't fly. Better off just using your D1110 until you get the real deal. Maybe Michael Hanson can post a nice pic here of a nice D111 with the sheared off end where it bolts onto the firewall with the big phillips. If you find an old junker one of those and your buy a nice NOS replacement between the two parts and some work you can end up with the real looking part. JD

[Jack H.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1110

You're between a rock and a hard place trying to find a correct/original D1111 ballast for your Corvette. You WILL find 'NOS' parts up for sale from time to time, but most are of the service replacement variety and differ from the factory originals to the extent that the current GM licensed reproduction parts do (mounting tab geometry, ceramic geometry, sub-assy component parts configuration).

The reason it's hard to find real McCoy factory originals is that very FEW cars used this part. You can expect to find originals from the era on turbo charged Corvair and high reving Chevy 348/409 engines. Good luck!

Often we hear the phrase "Will this/that part PASS judging scrutiny?" The answer is almost always 'YES' with the caveat being how many points will be lost for that parts' visually detectable difference(s) from the known factory original version. Methinks, those who are using the phrase actually want to ask if this/that part will judge WITHOUT originality deductions, but that's not what they actually state....

[Joe R.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1110

The difference between the more common ballast resistor (D1110, I believe) and the early high performance D1111 is only in the resistance. The D1110 is 1.8 ohms, and the D1111 is 0.3 ohms.

Physically these are identical, so GM marked the D1110 with a "blue stripe" and the D1111 with a "black dot." For judging purposes, you can remove the blue stripe and apply a black dot to the center of the steel band and the resistor should appear correct for judging.

Attached is a photo of what I believe would be correct for your 63, except for the blue stripe. Note the cutout in the band where the ceramic shows through, the Delco logo, and the small "tab" on the tip of the mounting flange.

The low resistance D1111 created a hotter spark but tended to burn points. At some point I believe GM issued a service bulletin to change to the G1110 if customers complained of short point life.

So, I think your car will start and run just fine with a G1110 that has been converted to appear as a "black dot" G1111, at least for operations testing at judging events. If you want a true 0.3 ohm resistor for regular driving, you could use a repro for that.

[John D.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1110

You're between a rock and a hard place trying to find a correct/original D1111 ballast for your Corvette. You WILL find 'NOS' parts up for sale from time to time, but most are of the service replacement variety and differ from the factory originals to the extent that the current GM licensed reproduction parts do (mounting tab geometry, ceramic geometry, sub-assy component parts configuration).

The reason it's hard to find real McCoy factory originals is that very FEW cars used this part. You can expect to find originals from the era on turbo charged Corvair and high reving Chevy 348/409 engines. Good luck!

Often we hear the phrase "Will this/that part PASS judging scrutiny?" The answer is almost always 'YES' with the caveat being how many points will be lost for that parts' visually detectable difference(s) from the known factory original version. Methinks, those who are using the phrase actually want to ask if this/that part will judge WITHOUT originality deductions, but that's not what they actually state....

I bought my correct NOS D1111 in the original box on ebay about 2 years ago. Wasn't cheap though. John D.

[Dan H.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1110

Can't speak for 63 ballast resistor appearance, but have seen two original still on the car 64 ballast units that have a much wider 'tab', which measures about 1/2" accross giving them a much different look than the one pictured. The Delco logo and cut out look the same. Couldn't detect a 'black dot' but they were old and it may have vanished. The one pictured has a smaller tang cut off and appears like the units from late 50's. How bout you guys with the survivor cars, which do you still have?
Dan

[Stuart F.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1110

Don't hate me fellows, but I have a 63 that I have had since new (guess it's called a "one repaint survivor"). My original D111 is still on the car (W/ black dot, etc.), but I jumpered around it with a black wire behind it to get a full 12V into my Petronix II electronic converted distributor. I got tired of dealing with points long ago and loosing spark plugs each time I idled through town. I used a Prestolite "Hall Effect" conversion before (early 1980's), but had pin wire connection issues with that. I have 3.36 to 1 final w/close ratio, so it was easy to lug and load. The jumper wire passes by the casual observer, but not an experienced NCRS judge, of course. I also use a K & N air filter too because I got tired of wiping up the oil all the time. Besides that, I have a Custom Autosound Stereo with Velcro mounted speakers and CD changer (all wiring is adapted w/o any splices, etc.). When you have had a car for 45 years and 45,000 miles, got loads trophies, and nearly got yourself killed a few times due to bias ply tires, you tend to make some exceptions to authenticity for the sake of practicality and safety. I'm riding around on radials here in Florida enjoying my twilight years a lot.

[Nick M.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1111

Thanks to all for a lively and informative discussion on the issue. Now that my head is spinning I need to log onto that famous auction service and try to find what I need! Thanks again

[Dan H.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1110

Nick, be VERY careful what you buy on that 'sight'. I've seen lots of money wasted for 'service replacement' listed as 'NOS' which are not what the cars originally came with. Get more advice from 63 owners with original stuff!
Dan

[Nick M.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1111

If anyone has or knows the whereabouts of an NOS D1111 Ballast Resistor foe sale please email me at: nminoia@optimum.net
Thanks

[Joe R.]

Re: Ballast Resistor D1111

If anyone has or knows the whereabouts of an NOS D1111 Ballast Resistor foe sale please email me at: nminoia@optimum.net
Thanks

Hi Nick:

Just be careful here. Remember that a NOS part is really just a service replacement part that was sold over the counter. Typically, an early NOS part might be identical to the version used in production, but a later NOS part, even with the exact same part number, might be different. I know this is true for the D1110, where the "tab" disappeared on the later versions.

I suggest that you determine what visual characteristics the resistor should have, and then look for either a NOS part or an nice original that has those characteristics.

As I stated in my earlier posting, both the production D1110 and D1111 looked exactly the same except for the "blue stripe" versus the "black dot" and both will function fine in your car for judging purposes. It's pretty easy to visually change a blue stripe to a black dot.