Wasted

I feel pretty dumb asking this but, Where is the coil resistor located on a 70 Cutlass Supreme with a 455? I have looked everywhere for it and can't find it.

Lady72nRob71

Didnt these years use resistor wire instead?
I am pretty sure my '72 does. A bypass wire is switched in during cranking to give more power to the coil then.

wmachine

I presume it is in '71, as I know it is in the mid '60s. On my first '66 442, the wiring had been cut back too far, and the "resistor" was cut out. Was quickly burning the crap out of points, and I couldn't figure out why! Finally guessed that may be it, and bought a common ballast resistor, mounted it on the firewall, and no more problems!

joe_padavano

As noted, the "resistor" is simply built into the wire. The harness uses a resistance wire, not a separate resistor.

jensenracing77

if the wire is original it is a resistor wire. start the car and check the volts at the + side of the coil. if you have around 6 volts you should be good. if you have 12 to 13.8 volts you do not have a resistor or resistor wire.

Wasted

I have one volt. So Im guessing that I have to replace the resistor. Or dose having 1 volt mean something else?

Lady72nRob71

Having 1V means that the resistor wire is resisting too much. Do the turn signals or backup lights work? If so, then you will need to follow that wire back to the firewall connector. If you get 12V there, then the resistor wire needs to be replaced. The whole resistor wire runs from the firewall connector to the coil.