Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I'm hooking up the electronic ignition, which requires a ballast resistor on the coil. I need a source of 12 volts in the "start" and Run" position of the ignition switch to power the control unit, fuel pump relay, and later the MSD. I've gone over the wiring diagram until my eyes are crossed, but no solution. The 7.5 volts through the ballast resistor will not activate a normal relay.

I have 2 possibe ways to do it,

1. a more sensative relay tht will work from 6 to 14 volts, but it isn't really for cars.
2. Bite the bullet and add the MSD now, then no ballast and no problem.

Someone must have a solution, I'm not the first to do this, and I'm guessing it is simple and I'm just missing it.

Thanks

I moved the start wire from the coil to the 12 volt side of the ballast resistor. The car seemed to start just fine through the ballast resistor. I then hooked my fuel pump relay to the 12 volt side of the ballast resistor.

When I switched to the Gary Boone distributor I used a Crane HI-6 instead of the MSD. You can get them a lot cheaper than the MSD. They have a built in adjustable rev limiter in addition to the other features of an MSD 6AL. I triggered the Crane directly from the magnetic pickups in the distributor and eliminated the need for the OEM ignition module.

Later,

Had a feeling it was that easy, thanks. I was actually just looking at the Crane Hi6.

Well, Andy's fix worked great, started on first try.