starting issues / ballast resistor

Hey fellas, so yesterday I was reversing out of my driveway when e-pup stalled and would not fire back up. It cranks and chugs but won't start, almost like if it was flooded. I gave it a couple hours, tried again, but no dice. Slept on it, but still no dice. A friend suggested it may be the ballast resistor. I'm the not most mechanically savy guy but I'm learning. Changed several alternators, starter solenoids, minor and easy stuff like that. Never messed with or even new much about a ballast resistor before. Did a quick google search and one thing I read said they should be left to expert mechanics but it looks like a simple part. Any of you have any experience with this or any other suggestions on what the issue may be? FYI, truck was turn key up until this point. Fired up every time first try and drove like a champ ( other then REALLY having to gas it to not stall in first gear and reverse )

I'm running with a 200 straight 6. Three on the tree.

Thanks in advance,
LW

The coil and points like 6 volts,,,,,,,,so in the wire coming from the ignition switch is a ballast resistor that cuts down the 12 volts to 6,,,,,,so simple test is to take a test light and hook it to ground and probe the Positive side of the coil with key on and see if you got juice to the coil,,,,,,if you do, move the test light to the Negative side of the coil,,,,if the points are working, the test light should blink as you crank the engine,,,,,,see what you got,,,,

Thanks for that! Would it even be turning over if it was the BR? I would think it would act more like it had a dead battery or something if that was the case. It's chugs likes its about fire up.

so closer inspection i see the choke plate on the holley carb is stuck open (photo 1 ) and the throttle lever (photo 2) will barely move. When pump the pedal or pull down on screw/spring (photo 3) fuel squirts into carb as it should. What to make of it all?

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its all about tests,,,,,,take some carburetor cleaner and spray it down into the carburetor,,,,then see if it starts,,,,,1st 2 basics for it to start are fuel and spark,,,,,,spray some fuel down in there like carburetor cleaner,,,,,get us some clues,,,,,the ballast resistor is just for AFTER the van starts,,,,,when it is running,,,,,nothing to do with the starter,,,,,to help it start, the starter relay shoots 12 volts to the coil to give the spark plugs a little more juice until it starts and the ballast resistor takes over,,,,,so 1 step and 1 system check at a time and you will find the problem,,,,,

Thanks! Fuel squirts in no problem but I haven't tried carb cleaner. Headed to Canada in a few hours for some mountain biking so it looks like I'm gonna have to mess with it next week when I get back. The input is much appreciated!

You need to check for spark. Not sure why your friend went right to the ballast resistor wire as a possible culprit. Coil maybe bad, points, etc. Like Don said, it's all about test. It's a simple system, start at point A and work through it. Sounds like you've got fuel if you see it squirt, the fact that it ran and then died and wouldn't start negates the choke as the cause. The fact that it won't fire at all after that poiints to an ignition problem. Step one, is there spark?

Hey hey! Back from Canada ( with a broken wrist ) and was able to pinpoint the problem. It was the coil. Too easy and I was even able to swap it out one handed. She fired right up first crank after sitting for a few weeks and purred like a kitten. Thanks for the input everyone.

Glad you worked it out