What the guys above are getting at is that "it depends" on how long you're going to run the engine. "Hot"wiring direct to the coil is hard on the coil and points if you are going to run it for long
Look for the coil resistor, which is a white ceramic resistor mounted probably on the firewall
Determine which end of the resistor goes to the coil. This is easy to do:
Unhook either wire from the resistor.
Hook a test lamp to the coil + terminal. This is the terminal OPPOSITE from the distributor primary wire
Hook your jumper wire from the disconnected ballast resistor POST to the starter relay "big stud" (which is the battery).
Does the test lamp light?
If not, reconnect that ballast resistor wire, unhook the opposite wire, and try this again.
When you are done, you will have the resistor "in the circuit" to the coil and this will protect the coil and points, and will not burn them out.
