Ignition Resistance Wire

[Scott S.]

Hi all,

I'm trying to connect a points ignition in my '72 LT-1 after removing the TI system that a PO had installed but the braided resistance wire for the coil is nowhere to be found. There is a braided red wire that was connected to the TI harness at the distributor and the 'run' terminal on the starter but it does not appear to be resistance wire. (I connected it to 12v on the solenoid end and it reads 12V at the distributor/coil end.)

Where would I buy resistance wire and how much would I need to drop the voltage from 12V to an appropriate voltage for the + coil terminal? Which I believe is 6-9 volts? (right?)

Thanks.

[Jim T.]

Re: Ignition Resistance Wire

Scott I don't know where you can buy a new resistance wire. I can tell you what I did back in 1976 when I needed one. I went to a facility that parts out cars and selected a GM vehicle that I knew would have the resistance wire in the factory harness and removed it. Still in use.

[Scott S.]

Re: Ignition Resistance Wire

I hadn't thought of that.

Thanks.

[Terry B.]

Re: Ignition Resistance Wire

Scott,

I had the same situation on my '68. The previous owner had replaced a TI harness and put a mid year resistor for the step down in voltage and located it on the fire wall similar to many mid years. As I became better educated with the '68, I found that GM did not use resistors on '68's but the resistor wire. I decided with a 37 years + wiring harness, it was better, in my situation, to buy a new wiring harness with the resistor wire all ready installed that was correct for the car. I purchased it from Lectric Limited.

[Scott S.]

Re: Ignition Resistance Wire

Thanks Terry. The more I dig into this harness the more unsettling things I find. It's not exactly a hack job but there's wires that are the wrong colour, I'm not sure where or how they're spliced in or if they are the correct guage, I've got a few live wires hanging around with tape on the ends, etc. At best it's a pain to troubleshoot anything when you're looking for a purple and a yellow wire and for some reason they're all red, at worst it's just plain dangerous.

I just ordered a new Lectric Limited harness. For the $150 and a few hours aggravation I'll sleep better knowing what's under my hood.

Thanks!
Scott.