ballast resistor help needed

OK, now check your cranking voltage. Hook a meter to coil+ and engine block and crank the engine USING THE KEY. You should get at least 10.5V and in no case less than 10

If not, your bulkhead connector or ignition switch connector or switch is flakey

Another thing you can try in this same vein is to hook a clip lead from the coil + terminal to the battery stud on the starter relay and see if it fires.

IF not, check the connectors at the ignition, ECU, ballast, and distributor. Work them in/ out to scrub them clean, and feel for tightness, and inspect them for corrosion.

Put your meter on low AC volts, hook to the two distributor terminals at the dist. connector, and crank the engine. You should get about 1V AC

Inspect the cap, rotor for damage, grease, carbon, moisture.

Inspect the reluctor/ pickup for rusty debri, strike damage

You key has a separate wire, brown "IGN2" which goes to the coil + side of the ballast, l and supplies starting power with the key in "start." If this is not intact, it usually won't start.

The ECU MUST HAVE a good ground.