Does anyone know what this is? Volvo Penta aq125a

[JK Splice]

Hi guys,
I was wondering if anyone can help me find/identify a part on a Volvo Penta aq125a. I recently picked this up and working on getting it running. I looked at few diagrams and I cant seem to find it. Not sure if its some type of relay or what. It has two connections. Connection 1 (grey wire) connects to the + side of the ignition coil. Connection 2 (purple wire) runs all the way back to the key ignition switch.

The white part/connector tends to get really hot to the point where you cant touch it at all. Is this normal?

Description: white rectangle, two connections, no part #,
printed on part NIRC1740PW-50E 0.8 ohm 10% LF

 

[alldodge]

That's a ballast resistor, and its used with points. When cranking 12V bypasses the resistor and goes straight to the coil. Once it starts, power goes thru the resistor to save the points

In later years they used a resistor wire

 

[JK Splice]

That's a ballast resistor, and its used with points. When cranking 12V bypasses the resistor and goes straight to the coil. Once it starts, power goes thru the resistor to save the points

In later years they used a resistor wire

Great! I was able to look it up by name now thanks to you and find out that it does run hot by design.