If your coil does not have enough resistance internally or externally from a ballast resistor it will quit along time before your points would be affected .

My Mallory systems are doing just fine as well as my converted 6 volt systems .

Your points don't care .

 

In a stock configuration, the points of a 12v system do not get 12v unless the vehicle is being started and that is done via a bypass wire from the starter solenoid.

I've had my quality points pit badly as a result of too little resistance (too much voltage), the coil is still kicking. We clearly have had different experiences.

Would you share your method for getting points to last with a full 12v?

 

Lets get back to the original question -

"what does it take to use 6 volt distributor
that came with this engine in 12 volt system?"

The points do not care if you use them in a 6v or a 12v system .

I am sure you have had some experiences that I have not encountered and vise versa . As you have stated the resistance in ohms that your coil has is a big factor . Luckily I have not had to adjust to a different range condenser to keep my points from pitting . I have know people that finally gave up and went EI .

I use a Napa IC14SB coil with no ballast resistors since it has a high primary resistance of 3.25 ohms in my systems , hot 12v to coil . Yes you are technically correct , it is not 12v to the points , unless the alternators output is 14v so then it is running on ?volts .


We are really on the same side of the fence as the coils either with an external ballast resistor or built in higher ohms resistance keep points from burning .

 

ken
i've been missing the boat here.
was the 1964 F100 a 12V system?
i have been going by the fact it
has a generator.
i've had '47 Cadillac's and '55 Studebakers plus
WWII jeep and Power Wagon.
just figured generator meant 6V.

Have A Nice Day!

Ford 292 &
Cruise-O-Matic
from Ford '64 F100

 

Bingo! So you are not running 12v to the points. The total voltage in that circuit is 12v The resistance at the coil and/or resistor consumes some of that 12v and what remains is for the points and is less than 12v. How much, I'm not sure, it goes beyond what I remember of high school physics. I've heard about 7-9 volts. That's why they don't burn when used in a 12v system when compared to 6v; they're still getting about the same voltage.
If you run a total primary resistance of about .5ohms (which still will not be 12v at the points but closer than normal points systems), you'll be needing new points in about 10 - 20 miles. But it will run very well for that distance. If you run about 2 ohms of primary resistance they will last quite a while but will need to be replaced much sooner than normal.
The fact of the matter is that if you actually do manage to get full voltage to the points with a 12v system, they will not last long and therefore the amount of voltage supplied to them does matter. The amount supplied is controlled by resistors in the circuit which cause the voltage to drop.

Allamerican,
I remember my resistor wire being bundled with the other wires but it was so long ago I'm not sure.
A '64 will already be 12v.

 

charlie
the NAPA ford resistor wire is 1.35 ohm and $29
the NAPA mopar single resistor is 1 ohm for $7
i think i'll take my chances with 1 ohm
mopar website is pitching 'restoration'
ballast with tin strap around them for $34.95
hee! hee! hee! i don't think so
they also have 1/4 ohm for mechanical advance only
distributor.
back in the 80's when that information was fresh
nobody ever said anything about a 1/4 ohm
for mechanical distributor w/tach drive.
i think things get mixed up over the years.

Have A Nice Day!

 

Yes, Ford still used a 12volt generator on some vehicles in 1964. Notice I said some vehicles. The alternator was introduced in 1963 on the T birds, possibly others but your truck had a generator.
Forget about running a resistive wire and install a resistor in the run circuit.......Or get the coil as mentioned.

 

ray
thanks for confirming it's a 12 volt generator.
i figured out the mopar 1/4 ohm resistor for
mechanical advance only distributor.
it's a single resistor ( 2 wires ).
they're giving you half of the later DUAL resistor
that was for ALL pointless distributors.
the 2 circuits had a purpose.
anyhow if later ford electronic ignition distributors are
swapped onto point ignition engines they may still need a resistor.

Have A Nice Day!