Resistor on dash

My 69 CJ has what apears to be a resistor of some type in the middle of the firewall. It is 3 inches by 1 inch with a terminal at each end. As the wiring on this thing is a mess I'm removing a lot of unnecesary add on stuff and have no idea what this does.
Does any one know what this might be?
Also under the floor panel that the throttle is attached to there is a switch with a lever that looks as if it accuates off the brake pedal. I would think it for the brake lights but there is a standard pressure sensor on the brake line on the drivers side frame rail.

 

Resistor sounds like a ballast resistor. It's needed by the coil IF the coil is the kind that requires a ballast resistor. Some do not.

The lever switch sounds like it's in there for brake lights, but there's usually a pressure switch on the master cylinder for that. Might be the lever switch was a quick fix for a bad pressure switch?

Stan

 

Thanks. Since I'm going the HEI I should be able to take off the resistor then and I'll fix the pressure switch. I'm spending half my time take mickey mouse stuff of this jeep. I've got wire laying all over the garage that I've taken off that didn't go anywhere.