LUVTruck.com

Hello all.

I am looking to see what ohm rating the factory ballast resistor is suppose to have on my 1980 chevy luv 4x4 mikado. I bought a replacement resistor, I think it is 1.6ohms... when I check and see how much voltage is at the ignition coil with the ignition on, I got 5.3 volts. This seems really low to me, I thought it was suppose to be more up around 8-9 volts after the ballast resistor.

4 days ago I put new points and condenser in it. Then yesterday the truck quit running. The points had carbon built up on them... leading me to believe that they were getting to much voltage. Sanded the points some, and the truck starts back up and runs great. But now I see my truck only has 5.3 volts at the coil, after the resistor with the ignition on and it NOT running. How much voltage should I have at the coil with the ignition on? I understand how if there is to much voltage at the points, they will burn... but what if there is to little voltage? Would that cause them to build up carbon because of weak spark?

I am wanting to put the pertronix points eliminator in, just cant afford it yet.

As I remember 1.6 ohm is about right. Should be about 6-8 volts if I remember correctly. Burned points usually means a bad condenser. I know you replaced yours but I suspect you got a bad or failing condenser.
I know of two people that had bad condersers from auto part stores recently. Quality must be going down on these.

Actaully on my third condensor in a week now. Got a replacement today, this one was made in japan. Hopefully its better then the other that was made in China. I am going to check with the auto parts store I trust tomorrow, see what Ohm ballast resistor it calls for. I would think I should have a little more then 5.3 volts at the coil, that was with the engine not running though.. maybe my battery is not the best.