computer??

[228jeeper]

My 86 cj has been desmogged. Under the dash on the passenger side there is a box that appears to be a computer. Since the jeep has been desmogged, can this and all of the wires going to and from it be removed? With care, of course.

 

[ThisGuyUKnow]

My 86 cj has been desmogged. Under the dash on the passenger side there is a box that appears to be a computer. Since the jeep has been desmogged, can this and all of the wires going to and from it be removed? With care, of course.

Considering all that computer was for the smog I'd say yess.

 

[BusaDave9]

I don't think you can just remove it even though you say the jeep's been de-smogged. I think it's still used. Ya want to make a lier out of me? Just disconnect it temporarily. See how it runs. If it runs just as good remove it and it's wires.

 

[228jeeper]

Fair enough, but if its still necessary, what is it being used for if all of the electronic stuff (ignition and emissions) have been removed? It now has a carb and points style ignition. No problem if it and the wires have to stay, but I am just trying to clean up the engine bay and the wiring behind the dash.

 

[BusaDave9]

all of the electronic stuff (ignition and emissions) have been removed? It now has a carb and points style ignition.

Points?
If you said you went to HEI ignition I would agree. HEI is self contained and doesn't rely on much else (as long as the timing is set)
I don't know how the points distributor was installed but I would tend to agree, It shouldn't be wired to rely on the computer like the old (or should I say newer) electronic ignition with a pickup assembly.
You should be good to go but I still say disconnect the computer before removing it completely.

 

[228jeeper]

Maybe I'm calling the ignition by the incorrect name. I have a separate
ignition coil with a ballast resistor wired to the starter solenoid. The previous owner called it a points style ignition system. Is this correct? What is an hei?

 

[IOPort51]

I think this is a good time to take some pictures.
be sure to pull the cap off the distributer.

Maybe I'm calling the ignition by the incorrect name. I have a separate
ignition coil with a ballast resistor wired to the starter solenoid. The previous owner called it a points style ignition system. Is this correct? What is an hei?

 

[BusaDave9]

whether you have points or electronic ignition the difference is in the distributor. Your jeep should have an electronic ignition. It has a pickup assembly that has a hall effect (magnetic) sensor to sense where the distributor is.
Older vehicles had a points ignition. This work like a cam. As the distributor rotated a cam pushed the points apart. When the points cam back together they made a spark go to one of the spark plugs. The points have to be adjusted and they wear out. I dont' know why someone would replace an electronic ignition with points.
Here is a points distributor:





Here is a electronic ignition distributor with a pickup assembly.

By the way, I have a Blaster Coil and resistor and it could be used with points or an electronic ignition.

 

[BusaDave9]

Next question: What's an HEI ignition?
It's a excellent ignition originally designed by GM. Many after market companies now make them.

It has the ignition module in the distributor. It also has the coil on top of the distributor. It's a good performance ignition. It's easy to install because it's all self contained. No need to install an ignition module and coil on the fender.

 

[PaStomper]

You will need to keep the computer. It controls the voltage to the coil to adjust the spark for the emission control. My 85 has been restored to the 80 smog set up and I still needed that dam thing to make it run. It wont really do anything other then that and the jeep will run fine. That may be a little over simplified it does do more then that but you will need it.