Tuning things up here and want to avoid scorching the points with a new coil and the wrong resistance. Don't know if this is the original coil but it's a low mileage motor, for sure an old coil. Don't remember seeing the can mounted to the coil on points setups I've had in the past on GM cars. Is this an extra resistor, or is it all of the resistor on these setups? Figured I'd swap the coil since they're cheap enough but don't want to mess up the points. I also found an MSD Blaster 2 coil (a black one, so we'd even look old school!) that I bought a few years ago, didn't use and forgot I had. Is this as hassle-free as just grabbing a Blue Streak points coil and swapping the can to it? Or do the replacement OE points coils have extra resistance built in to take the place of the resistance can? If I use the Blaster, is there a resistance window to aim for? Is the resistance test any different with the can on there than without?

 

The little can is not a resistor, it's a filter capacitor to prevent radio noise.

 

Well, that makes it easy! Thank you for your help with that!

 

The resistor is built into the wire harness.

 

That's what I've been used to in the past. When I've put in an MSD type distributor, I like to run the full 12V deal along that loom, and then tuck in the resistor wire so it's readily available if need be.

 

My 2c...don't replace it unless it needs it. New parts are hit and miss with quality. OR, replace them but throw them in the trunk as spares.

 

I always wondered, is this more of an AM radio interference thing?

 

Yes, it is mostly an AM radio thing.