Looking to upgrade the ignition.

[Daly]

I've swapped out the old points for an electronic ignition and put on a new vacuum advance, but now I'm looking to get rid of the balance resistor on the firewall. What is the best way to do this? I've heard going to a MSD ignition is a good way, but is there anything else I should do while I'm at it?

 

[Deleted member 214]

What electronic ignition did you swap it out for? Some don't need the ballast resistor at all.

 

[Daly]

Petronix Ignitor 2. So if this doesn't need the resistor, how do I get rid or it? Just remove it from the system and tie the wires together or is there more to it?

 

[Xp29h]

I just built a jumper wire. Unhooked from the ballast and jumped the two wires together. Done. I went with msd ignition but would be the same if pertronix want the ballast bypassed

 

[Car Nut]

You can bypass the ballast by soldering in a jumper wire and keep it in place for the stock look....lots of guys do it that way

 

[Daly]

Ok, so I ordered a Flamethrower 2 coil today and I'll just jump the ballast when it gets here. Thanks for the help.

Is there anything else that I should upgrade while doing this?

 

[RoadWarrior]

After I switched to electronic ignition from points it was a matter of months till I started having issues with my wire harness. It is over 40 years old. Lights dimming, wires melting to one another and shorting out. Not blaming my switch to electronic ignition but man, you mess with one thing, get ready to mess with another.

Anyway I replaced my entire harness from headlights to tail lights. Every wire is new and by far is the best upgrade I have ever done. Larger gauge wires, no bulkhead, razor fuses. My car is very happy. The best part is no more dimming headlights when sitting at a stop light.

 

[Ranger16]

The best part is no more dimming headlights when sitting at a stop light.

I solved that simply by cleaning the connections when I had to replace the alternator.

 

[Car Nut]

Anyway I replaced my entire harness from headlights to tail lights. Every wire is new and by far is the best upgrade I have ever done. Larger gauge wires, no bulkhead, razor fuses. My car is very happy. The best part is no more dimming headlights when sitting at a stop light.

I agree, there's M&H modified engine wiring harness for electronic ignition from Yearone. Replace all of the wiring when your budget allows.

 

[RoadWarrior]

My issue was more than alternator connections. A leaky windshield did not help my situation either. Burnt spaghetti.

And in case you are wondering I went the cheap route and used an E-Z wire harness. Under 200 bucks. I removed all the GM connectors, ditched the instructions, and just wired it according to my cars wiring diagram. No more "oh I'll just light my gauge by splicing into this".

There is also a great article on http://www.allpar.com/history/mopar/electrical2.html to update the old voltage limiter behind the cluster. Get your stock gauges working again.