Cleanup turns to mess up. Need some help troubleshooting.

I feel your pain. I had an ECU crap out in the middle of an intersection.

Just remember that an engine needs fuel, air and spark, in the right amounts at the right time. So, to troubleshoot stuff like this, first just determine what it HAS...then that'll easily show you what it doesn't have.

1. Check for spark. Either you can use the way I talked about or you can use an inline spark tester that you buy at the parts store. On these cars you can spin the engine under the hood by using a screwdriver to jump the starter relay. Just make sure to have the key on.

2. Don't obsess over the ballast resistor. That thing simply gives you two different voltages: near battery voltage used in the start position to get the car running, and a reduced RESISTED running voltage when the switch is in the ON position. That is to protect the coil by feeding it reduced voltage.

They nearly always fail in the RUN side because that's where they do all their work and generate heat. When the run side fails you have spark and the engine runs as long as the key is held over to START. Once let off back to run, the voltage dies, the engine dies and owner pulls hair out. But..once you've had one fail you know the symptoms.

3. If you have spark at all times maybe the carb is at fault or something in the fuel system. But, those carbs are pretty reliable, more so than the 1920.

4. You can build an HEI ignition for these easily that eliminates the ballast and the coil and their associated problems. You don't have to remove them or alter the wiring so everything can be returned to stock.