No spark at coil

I think that the ballast resistor is in series with your positive wire to the coil. If it has a high resistance (close to being open but not all of the way) it will show what we in electronics (my trade) call "open circuit voltage". Open circuit voltage in your case would be 12 volts. You can, as a test jump across the ballast resistor. If I am right your car should start. You cant leave it like that because the voltage at the coil will be too high. Good Luck.