[Cobra20646]

Ron,

The info you've received above is all good.

To answer your question as to the symptoms of a failed ballest resistor.......

As mentioned the ballest limits current through the points/coil, and as a result, reduces the voltage to the coil.

Your starter solenoid has a set of contacts that bypass the ballest during the time the starter is running.

If the car starts when turning over the motor, but immediately quits when you return the key to the "run" position, that is a sure (if not the only) symptom of a failed ballest.