You do not need the resistor, and it SOUNDS like you wired the HEI to the coil+? If so the HEI is running on reduced voltage, as well My car is apart, but I ran it for two summers, the original old coil with no ballast. HEI varies the dwell electronically, and it seems not to hurt anything. If however you elect to keep the resistor for now, at least move the HEI power + wire to the "key" side of the ballast
