Anyone know what this is?

Hmm. I dunno. There are an awful lot of wires there, but the picture isn't very good.

I suggested that he unplug it and see what stops working. That's what I call hi-tech diagnostics. :)

Does it have a painless wiring kit installed, looks like my 70 amp maxi fuse that came with kit.

I'm told this is an '82 CJ. Can anyone tell me what this freedenoid is next to the solenoid on the right fender? Any help appreciated.

I vote with Doug: Ignition module. All the wires from the thing head straight for the distributor. Unplug it and the engine will be dead as a doornail.

The ignition modules that I'm used to seeing in the circa 1980 CJ 258s is the sandwich-sized Motorcraft unit on the left fender under the washer bottle:

I don't see the colored ribbon going into your mystery module. Could it be a California vehicle? Some site say there were stepper-motor controlled carbs as part of the CARB smog package in 1982, although those sites put the EECU for that system up above the glove box.

Truthfully, I don't know. This is someone else's rebuild project.

Here's a better (closer) view of the same picture he sent to me. It seems to me there are an awful lot of wires there for an ign module. That radiator support couldn't be in a worse place in the picture. Those wires go to a plug and then disappear into a wire loom.

Take a look at this again.

Okay, I'll pass that along and let him figure it out.

Thanks.

It isn't the ignition module, for the 1982 and earlier CJ that's a Motorcraft unit bolted to the left fender skirt, under the washer jug, with two or three round connectors.

What he's got is the US 1982-1982 ECM for the Carter BBD stepper motor. In the next model year it was relocated to inside the cab, above the glove box. See this discussion (keyword seek "John Nutter Bypass" for the right section. That seek will put you just above a photo of an identical unit.

Lee Ayrton said: [snip]

Now you're talking!

Thanks a million.

De nada.