So a few weeks ago my 1972 Cutlass with the original 350 went up in flames. Thankfully, the actual mechanical components are mostly intact but the wiring was TRASHED. Since then, I have made contact with a gentleman who has a running Olds 455 with a TH400 he wants to sell for cheap. I have decided to take the extreme risk and jump on it, for the price is low and my budget is pathetic. I have only hit one real snag thus far; I am uneducated on electrical systems. I have been told a stock type coil needs to use low resistance wire to the fuse block, and I can't find any for sale ANYWHERE, even on the behemoth that is Google, and this wire went up in smoke with the rest of them.

So, the question is this; is there any way to make a repair to my original harness and run the proper low resistance wire to the stock type coil? Or will it run OK with standard 16 AWG wire? I certainly am not going to have the extra money to get a new wiring harness anytime soon, so this is not yet an option. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

Sorry to hear about your loss and glad you ahave the ambition to rise her from the ashes!

The resistor wire is 1.35 Ohm. It is possible to use a wirewound "sandbox" resistor if you cannot find the correct wire. A 10-20 Watter should work fine.

 

I will ask around the auto parts stores tomorrow and see if they have this kind of resistor. Thanks for the help!

 

If they do not have it then check out your local electronics supplier. 1.35 is an odd value but you can put resistors in series or parallel depending on your finds.
This 1.3 Ohmner is most likely close enough:
http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...ame=1.3W-10-ND

BTW - I notice you are in Medford. John (2blu442_ might have a resistor wire for you or even a new harness!
I envy your nice weather there.........