What is this?

Hey Guys,

Just picked up a pretty crappy 81 CJ5 for $500 as the beginning of a labor of love.

Replaced the plugs, wires, distributor and cap, alternator and belt, ignition module, battery, fuel pump and hoses, threw in an extra filter and a new coil too... but know I just found something that looks a lot like the ignition module attached to the front right (passenger side) engine compartment. It's got two wiring harnesses coming out but don't know what it is... It's not the ignition module because that's on the left side near the firewall right?..

What the heck is this thing?

Thanks!

Hank in Key West, FL

 

Welcome Aboard!
Got any pictures of it? That would help with the identification process.

 

Sounds like its probably the external voltage regulator.
The old Delco alternators are externally regulated (unlike the modern internal style on most all cars and trucks)

As posted, Pictures are almost a requirement for diagnosis.

Is it this?

 

You guys are awesome!

I'll get pics today.. thanks.

Hank

 

On an '81? I think those are all internally regulated Delcos.

Now, this is a 258? The 258 from that era used the Carter BBD 2V carb with an electronic control unit. I'm guessing it's your ECU. There are some kind of stepper-motor controlled jets or something in these carbs ... if you google "nutter bypass" you'll find a lot of info on this.

 

Here are the pics...
Umm, is image posting delayed?.. don't see em.

You know that's what it might be...
where it's sitting there in your pic is not where it's normally mounted right?

thanks in advance.

Hank

 

lol... the cancer?