driving without ballast resistor: risks?

[Thunderhans]

Last weekend I found out that my ballast resistor (between ignition switch and coil, reducing 12V to approx. 8 V) needs replacement.

Anyone in the Netherlands with a spare ballast resistor reading this?

For the other experts, I drove Saturday with the resistor by-passed (stock coil and braker points) and it works fine. The car starts better then before (I do not have the 12V direct feed to the coil during starting, some previous owner did not need/ understand the benefit of it....).

What kind of problems can I expect (besides burning the points) when I do not re-install a ballast resistor?

Thanks.
Hans

[JohnG]

I would keep a point file with me or some very fine sandpaper (600 grit or so) in case the points crap up on you. Clean them up and then draw a business card between them.

the rest depends on the specifics of your coil. Do you have a spare coil of any kind you could carry "just in case" ???

When you find a ballast, get 2!!

[tarps3]

if you bypass the resistor, you are feeding a full 12 volts to the coil.

If you're using the stock coil, it's designed to accept much less than that and you run the risk of burning out the coil.

Aftermarket coils (like Pertronix) are designed for a full 12 volts.

That said, I know a few people who have done exactly what you describe and have yet to ruin their stock coil after a few years of driving it that way.