Smoking ballast resistor ain't a good sign...huh?

If you left the key on for "a length of time," with either

A Mopar electronic ignition

or points and the points happen to "land" in a closed position,

the ballast WILL heat up. Any grease, oil, etc WILL cause it to smoke.

IF you have points it is VERY HARD on them to leave the key on for a length of time.