[junkyardjeff]

I was looking at the points in my 65 galaxie and noticed they looked kind of burnt,I put them in last summer and they only have about 3500 miles on them so I checked the volts going to the coil and I am getting 12. Does Fords have a resistance wire like GM or is resistance in the coil,I had replaced the coil last summer with one from a discount parts store for a 65 galaxie but I am wondering if using a aftermarket coil should I put in a resistor. Jeff

[docvette]

Doc here,

Remove the Dizzy cap, use a jumper and short out the points gap.

Turn the key on and measure the coil voltage at the coil power..it SHOULD read between 6 to 9 volts..If so your OK, If not..and it reads 12 volts, you need a resistor.


The coil will show 12 volts if the points are open when you measure them because there is no opposition to the flow..(no load on the circuit, points not closed) This is why you need to jumper them shut before you test.

Your description sounds exactly like an non resistor system, points lasting about 3500 miles..and pitting...also the next thing to go will be the coil from overheat...so you want to get a resistor and install it ASAP.

If you replaced a coil awhile ago, you may have replaced the resistor with it...these sometimes mount on the side of the coil...and that's why the problem now.

Almost ALL points systems require a resistor with few exceptions such as performance aftermarket systems..
Doc