I'm installing an electonic ignintion in my '91 Ski Brendella (PCM Ford 351) and I've got a question. <BR>The instructions for the kit say most boats have a resistor off the positive terminal of the coil, and that this should be bypassed. <BR>The manual I have for my engine says it has a resistor. <BR>But it doesn't really look like there is one on my engine. The positive wire coming off the coil is purple, just like they describe. But there's nothing on it in the first five inches or so, then it goes into a harness type thing so I can't really see what's going on. The only thing I see that would maybe the resistor is a circular piece that's on the carb. There's purple and a black wire hooked up to it, and both these wires go into the harness in the same general area as the wire coming off the coil. But I'm guessing this is not it. Any thoughts? Does my engine not have a resistor?

The circular piece on the carb is your electric choke stove, that's not it. The resistor should be about 1/2"x1/2"x3" white with two terminal screws on it. There may be a plastic cover over it, I would expect it to be mounted on the plate under the plastic cover above the transmission at the rear of the intake manifold. It's there, somewhere and it needs to be bypassed or jumpered out of the system. When I did my 84 PCM I just moved both terminals under one screw and left everything there in case I had to go back to points. <BR> <BR>If you take a picture of the back of the motor I might be able to point it out.

Thanks a lot for the quick response, <BR>I'll take a look tomorrow morning and if I'm having trouble I'll post again.

I saw this pic in another discussion, it shows the ballast resistor. <BR> <BR> <BR><img src="http://www.wakeworld.com/MB/Discus/messages/65921/228765.jpg" alt="ballastresistor">

Thanks guys. No problems finding it once I knew where to look;)

So what happens if you don't bypass the resistor? Does it hurt performance? I'm just curious, because I converted my ignition to electronic and didn't bypass the resistor. Didn't know it had one, but I do know. <BR> <BR>I had my boat out once, and it ran fine. Will it run better with the resistor skipped?

I bought a Mallory electronic for a 351W for a car, directions said I should ADD a ballast resistor, I never did. Car runs great without it. You might try the manufacturer web site and ask them. <BR> <BR>I chose not to add one because I have had factory ones fail on cars before and been stranded. One less part to fail if I don't need it.