The Ford Barn

koates · 10-25-2025, 07:58 PM

Love your car. I have a 34 sedan and had a coupe for 49 years. As for your ignition system The original Ford ballast resistor is the ONLY one to use. By using a modern ballast resistor (with different specifications) you are messing up the system, so refit the old ballast. The voltage readings you have tested are all correct for your Ford. You tested voltage at the coil 2.4 volts with the timing points in the dist closed and the engine not running. If the engine running at idle the voltage would be higher.. When the ballast is cold for a cold engine start its electrical resistance is lower which gives a higher voltage and spark for engine starting. As the ballast warms up after a couple of minutes running its electrical resistance increases which reduces the voltage and current draw (in amps) of the coil primary which has the effect of insuring the dist points will have a long life. The old Ford engineers knew what they were doing and by changing out components you are messing up the original design. My cars are all original and start straight away hot or cold. The message here is . leave it alone. Regards, Kevin.

10-25-2025, 07:58 PM	#11
koates Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Melbourne Australia. Posts: 2,218	Re: Waking up a Sleeping Beauty, 1934 5 window Love your car. I have a 34 sedan and had a coupe for 49 years. As for your ignition system The original Ford ballast resistor is the ONLY one to use. By using a modern ballast resistor (with different specifications) you are messing up the system, so refit the old ballast. The voltage readings you have tested are all correct for your Ford. You tested voltage at the coil 2.4 volts with the timing points in the dist closed and the engine not running. If the engine running at idle the voltage would be higher.. When the ballast is cold for a cold engine start its electrical resistance is lower which gives a higher voltage and spark for engine starting. As the ballast warms up after a couple of minutes running its electrical resistance increases which reduces the voltage and current draw (in amps) of the coil primary which has the effect of insuring the dist points will have a long life. The old Ford engineers knew what they were doing and by changing out components you are messing up the original design. My cars are all original and start straight away hot or cold. The message here is . leave it alone. Regards, Kevin.