Auto Parts: Ballast resistor, chevy impala ss, ballast resistor

Question
Mike,
A question on the ballast resistoe for a 1964, 283 Chevrolet V-8. The ballast resistor is spliced in to the "+" lead from the coil to the ignition switch I believe. Is the need for a ballast resistor only for the older V-8's that use a generator & not an alternator. I checked a friends 1964 Chevy Impala SS with a 283 & an alternator and original point type distributor and did not find a resistor on the firewall. If the alternator versions do not need the resistor, what takes the resistors place in order to not burn up the points???
Thank you.
Al

Answer
    Older GM cars had a ceramic ballast resistor mounted on the firewall.  At some point in the '60's GM switched to using a piece of resistance wire to connect the ignition switch to the coil.  There was another wire going down to the "I" post on the starter solenoid.  This bypassed the ballast, assuring that the coil got a full 12V while the engine was being cranked.  Ballasts are really only necessary when using breaker point ignition.  Lowering the voltage at the points makes them last a lot longer.  This was discovered by the OEM's when they switched from 6V to 12V back in the '50's.  Many older cars that have been rewired will end up with a ceramic ballast replacing the original resistance wire.  This is not necessary any more as Painless and some other vendors have made the original type of wire available for sale.  So, your friend's car still has the original wiring installed, but it's nothing to do with the alternator.  If you are installing an MSD distributor, or some other kind of aftermarket electronic unit, you may not need to use a ballast.  Refer to the manufacturer's directions in that case.