Chad got the Crane Hi-6 in his Duster and we put it in without the ballast resistor. It doesn't take much voltage to make these systems run, but to run right they need at least 12 volts. I know in some of the early generic motors HEI systems they had a problem with run on when you used a MSD due to stray voltage from the altenator. So when you turned the key off the engine would still be running. You had to put a diode in the alternator line so when you turned the key off the engine would stop.
318ute if you install a MSD setup, it'll feel like a whole different engine. The MSD will easily work with a stock electronic distributor, but the MSD distributor is easy to tweek and adjust. They look cool too :D