Just go to a good parts store and tell them what you're doing. They'll find the right resistor for you, and will probably even have it on the shelf.

 

I agree, get the right ballast resistor at the parts store. Don't try to fix it at Radio Shack. I don't don't know what the Ohm value of the ballast resistor but it is the Watts and the heat dissipation that will kick your butt. Ballast resistors are readily availible I have 3 in my tool box.

 

a quick check on web show about .8 ohms will take you down to 7 V. Any decent parts store or performance shop should have them for under $15.

 

thank you! exactly what i needed to know

 

well ... have you even measured the voltage at coil?
if noone did any modifications you should be there at 7V-8.5V

and for that matter, i don't recall the distributor needing the resistor. a stock distributor is just a switch. I believe it's the stock coil that demands the lower voltage

 

Actually, it's there to save the points. Running points at 12V will burn them up in short order. BUT, because the coil is designed to run on 7-8V, it's not a great idea to feed it 12V either. It could overheat it and turn it into a small bomb in your engine bay.