1960 f-100 I-6 223. I was checking under the dash yesterday for a burnt out fuse when I felt one of the wires and it was very warm. I know that isn't right so I followed the wire and it goes directly to coil. It is part of the wiring harness so I believe it to be the original wire. My question is, isn't there supposed to be some type of a resister inline? If not, is this wire supposed to get very warm? Thoughts please?

 

Were you able to see where the other end went?

 

I would guess you have found the ballast resistor wire, and yes it will get warm as it is dropping voltage by resistance which creates heat.
Not one of Mr Ford's better ideas, IMHO, I really prefer the Dodge/Plymouth idea of a ballast resistor under the hood in the airflow. The Ford wire has in the past, on my trucks anyway, overheated and take out a wire bundle as it burnt up.
I am running the Dodge/Plymouth ballast resistor on my truck

Oh yeah it drops the voltage from 12 to approx 7-9 volts to the coil when the engine is running, I am told it is to extend coil life.

 

So apparently you disconnected the ballast resister wire from the starter, ran a new wire to the Dodge/Plymouth resister and then to the coil, is that right? I would sure hate to burn up the wire bundle from an overheated ballast wire.

 

You nailed it One end of the wire goes to the ignition switch the other end goes to the ballast resistor then from the ballast resistor to the coil. You may also need a wire from a switched 12 volts to the coil for better starts. Highly reccomend the mod saves burnt up wiring