Nathan 
302 in 50 Ford
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302 in 50 Ford
Hello, Is it nessesary to run the igition wire through a voltage reducing block so the points wont recieve a full 12 volts? The engine is a 68 302. I had to do this to my flathead because it kept burning points. Ive done the same for this engine. Is it nessesary for the later model 302? Thanks in advance.
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From: Virginia
302 in 50 Ford
With a 12 volt system, and a 12 volt coil, you still need a resistor in the primary circuit of the coil. Even the ford duraspark II electronic ignition requires a resistor or sometimes a resistance wire is used.
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Joined: Feb 2001
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From: Iowa
302 in 50 Ford
T Bone
You also want to run an additional wire from the "I" terminal of your starter solenoid to the Coil + terminal. This will give you full 12V during cranking which is desirable.
Ever see a coil explode from running full voltage to it? It makes a mess
'fenders
You also want to run an additional wire from the "I" terminal of your starter solenoid to the Coil + terminal. This will give you full 12V during cranking which is desirable.
Ever see a coil explode from running full voltage to it? It makes a mess
'fenders
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Kalispell, MT
302 in 50 Ford
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it depends on the coil you're using. Some are internally resisted, others externally. If your's is the external type you need one of those ceramic block resistors for your firewall. You can buy your coil either way.
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From: Iowa
302 in 50 Ford
Tim
You may be correct but most older style canistor coils require a ballast resistor or resistor wire as Franklin mentions or they will burn up in fairly short order. It is kind of a shot in the dark if you aren't sure what kind of coil you have. Most of the common ballist resistors I have seen run in the 1 to 2 ohm range. That is a pretty wide variance for actual voltage at the coil unfortunately. I believe 1.3 to 1.6 ohms is a good place to start if you have to guess. My aftermarket MSD coil uses a .8 ohm to get the volts down where it needs to be for that coil.
'fenders
You may be correct but most older style canistor coils require a ballast resistor or resistor wire as Franklin mentions or they will burn up in fairly short order. It is kind of a shot in the dark if you aren't sure what kind of coil you have. Most of the common ballist resistors I have seen run in the 1 to 2 ohm range. That is a pretty wide variance for actual voltage at the coil unfortunately. I believe 1.3 to 1.6 ohms is a good place to start if you have to guess. My aftermarket MSD coil uses a .8 ohm to get the volts down where it needs to be for that coil.
'fenders
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