Is this the right way to test the ballast resistor

[blown motor]

I hope this doesn't sound rude or anything Murray, but have you done any testing yet as far as troubleshooting the issue? To determine ecu, coil, dizzy, resistor issue? Or just order the reluctor/pickup kinda hoping that's the problem?
 

I have a new coil, Rev-N-Nator, and resistor to swap in. My question about testing the current resistor was so that I could learn, not because it was my only option. Swapping the reluctor and pickup doesn't cost much and the others are 50 years old so maybe new ones aren't a bad idea. I've been away for a week so this project is stalled. I'll be home tomorrow but gone again on Friday for the weekend so it will be the first of the week before I get back at it. I appreciate everyone's input and I've learned a thing or two, now we'll see if I can remember it. 

[blown motor]

I got back at it today and I have spark coming from the coil. So does that mean that everything before the coil is good?

However...my battery is in the trunk and I smelled something hot back there so I started following the wires and found that where the negative was bolted to the wheel well seam had broken out. So now, where to ground it? Drill another hole in the seam and ground it there again?

[blown motor]

Actually, now that I've looked some more, how about bolting it to the deck lid hinge bracket? Does anyone see an issue with that?

[Brads70]

Actually, now that I've looked some more, how about bolting it to the deck lid hinge bracket? Does anyone see an issue with that?

That's what I use.