Pertronix install gone bad!

[RustyandGreen]

Hello,
New to the site but looks like really good information here! So I have a 68 C/10, I6 with a 3 speed. I installed the pertronix ignitor 1162A, followed the instructions except for the part about the ballast resistor, I couldn't find a resistor in the wire, I'm starting to think now the wire is the resistor? Anyway I got everything hooked up and when I tried turning it over I melted the insulation off the ends of the yellow wire from the starter solenoid to the coil. I'm still trying to figure out what went wrong, seems something must have been shorted out but I'm not seeing it yet. Could the coil have been fried? It looks like a very old Delco-Remy unit but it was still running when the points were in. I had put an ohmeter on it before I began the install but was getting strange readings, first it said 5 ohms, later tests showed about 1.8, and then it went to 0 and then -0.1. I was figuring I'd change the coil but it could be the cheap ohmeter going haywire. Also I've had trouble with starting, sometimes it sounds like the battery was dead but after turning the key a few times the starter would slowly come to life, very slow at first and then would work as normal. I mention that just to say it might be connected, battery was fully charged. My first old Chevy that I've tinkered with, I mostly have Fords but I like them all really. Sorry for the long post, I really appreciate any advice.