Coil, ballast resistor wiring and more headaches

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ToledoZombie
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Coil, ballast resistor wiring and more headaches

#1 Post by ToledoZombie »

Hi all
My engine is out having a rebuild so I thought a good time to tidy up the wiring and engine bay.
I can only say that there was a mass of extended wires with multiple types of connectors used and it really looked a state. So I’ve decided to tidy it all up and remove the botched loom and put in some nice new cables , using solder and heat shrink with some new routing to make it look a little better.
It’s hard to think the car ran when you see some of it . I’ll also be putting in a new larger fuse box ready for when the new headlamps and relays are fitted.
My problem is I’m not sure if some of the wiring is correct.
The coil (Anew ballast coil from accuspark) has one wire on each side, the neg side goes to the neg on the distributor. The positive side goes to the bottom of the ballast resistor, along with a wire from the starter solenoid. The top of the resistor has I wire from somewhere unknown to me , with a wire spliced into it going to the distributor positive .
Can anybody tell me if this seems right? Also what the Unknown wire is? And for someone not so great with electrics , how does it work using a wire form the solenoid?
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1971 2 door Toledo aka Chuckie (porsche orange)
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tinweevil
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Re: Coil, ballast resistor wiring and more headaches

#2 Post by tinweevil »

The wire from the solenoid bypasses the ballast so that during cranking the coil gets full battery voltage instead of half. The don't know wire is 12V supply to the ballast, from the ignition switched side of the fuse box if memory serves.
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.
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ToledoZombie
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Re: Coil, ballast resistor wiring and more headaches

#3 Post by ToledoZombie »

So apart from looking a mess then all is correct?
Now I understand it a whole lot better. Thank you
1971 2 door Toledo aka Chuckie (porsche orange)
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tinweevil
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Re: Coil, ballast resistor wiring and more headaches

#4 Post by tinweevil »

ToledoZombie wrote: Wed Jul 22, 2020 2:49 pm So apart from looking a mess then all is correct?
I believe so, yes.
1978 Pageant Sprint - the rustomite, 1972 Spitfire IV - sprintfire project, 1968 Valencia GT6 II - little Blue, 1980 Vermillion 1500HL - resting. 1974 Sienna 1500TC, Mrs Weevils big brown.
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Re: Coil, ballast resistor wiring and more headaches

#5 Post by Carledo »

Does it have electronic ignition? If it does and another black wire runs from the dizzy to coil -ve, then it is correct.

And a rev counter? Rev counter lead SHOULD be white/grey but could be anything since Toledos didn't have rev counters. And will also get it's signal from coil -ve.

Am I right in believing this car has been Sprinted? That would account for the messy wiring as a Sprint engine is a bad match to a Toledo loom, everything is on the wrong side of the car to match up properly!

Steve
'73 2 door Toledo with Vauxhall Carlton 2.0 8v engine (The Carledo)
'78 Sprint Auto with Vauxhall Omega 2.2 16v engine (The Dolomega)
'72 Triumph 1500FWD in Slate Grey, Now with RWD and Carledo powertrain!

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ToledoZombie
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Re: Coil, ballast resistor wiring and more headaches

#6 Post by ToledoZombie »

Hi Steve
It’s a Tr7 lump . It’s now electronic ignition. There’s only one wire on the -ve side of the coil Which indeed gives the signal .
While I’m sorting this out I’m also renewing all the brown wires and Replacing the four way live block with something more substantial .
Then I’ll look at the headlight circuit and see what I can with that
1971 2 door Toledo aka Chuckie (porsche orange)
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