What do they do? And do I really need them in my car?

My car is a stock standard '66 Dart 270 with a 170ci slant.

PS: I suck when it comes to electrical stuff

Syed

_________________
Cars: 1966 Dodge Dart 270 Convertible,
1990 Alfa 164 Twin Spark
1980 BMW 735i 5-speed

http://www.weddingcar4u.blogspot.com/

Yes you do need them.
Basically, the ballast resistor, limits the amount of current flowing through the ignition system and the points in the distributer. Without it, the points would burn out in a short time.
The voltage regulator, controls the amount of charge the alternator puts into the battery.

_________________
Charrlie_S
65 Valiant 100 2dr post 170 turbo
66 Valiant Signet 170 nitrous
64 Valiant Signet
64 Valiant 4dr 170
64 Valiant 4dr 225

You don't need the ballast resistor if you replace the coil with a 3 ohm coil.

or replace the ignition with a HEI setup.

_________________
Ed
64 Valiant 225 / 904 / 42:1 manual steering / 9" drum brakes

Baby steps first.

A car's alternator, a device that generates electricity from mechanical energy produced by the engine, and makes or generates more than 12 volts. This varying voltage produced has to be stepped down or regulated to 12 volts so that all the electrical devices, radio, wiper motor, lights, etc will work as designed, and not blow or burn out.

That ceramic ballast resistor is feed regulated 12 volts, than reduces it to 5 or 6 volts so that a standard coil will not burn out, and as Ed said; burn the points. Points being the device that measures a pulse of 5 volts to the coil that than steps up 5 volts to 36,000 volts to fire of each spark plug.

There is an additional voltage regulator behind your dash board that powers the fuel & temperature gages as well.

Ohm's Law governs how voltage (pressure), current (flow of electrons), and resistance interact.

Automotive electrical systems in our old cars are rather simple. Once one has a basic understanding of Ohm's Law, and how each electrical device in a car works, a little reading and study, down loading a schematic of your car's electrical system, and you will soon have the basics down. It is not at all complicated if taken in small bites.

_________________
67' Dart GT Convertible; the old Chrysler Corp.
82' LeBaron Convertible; the new Chrysler Corp
07' 300 C AWD; Now by Fiat, the old new Chrysler LLC