First PLEASE verify the actual Lionel item number!
Have we ever gotten the actual Lionel item number for this locomotive? Marty posted Legacy SD-70 6-34612, is this correct? If so, it requires a 6 ohm resistor, according to the part breakdown. If you have an 8 ohm (or 9 ohm), I'd expect not much smoke.
(6-34612) Norfolk Southern LEGACY SD70 M-2 #2658
Let's assume 5 watts dissipation for normal smoke from the six ohm resistor. If you change that resistor to a 9 ohm resistor, you'll only dissipate 3.3 watts. That will result in very little smoke probably not enough to actually see.