spark control computer solid state????

Technical Question and Answer - On topic to 71-74 Plymouth B-bodies only.

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RICK71ROADRUNNERFJ6
Satellite Coupe (RL)
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My Cars: 1971 sassy grass green roadrunner---with full vinyle black top
1971 hugger orange chevelle
Location: SAN ANTONIO -TEXAS

spark control computer solid state????

Post by RICK71ROADRUNNERFJ6 » Thu Nov 08, 2012 12:34 am

i finally got my 1971 roadrunner to my home today!!! i was going over it and found the air cleaner in the truck with this small square little box attached to it----and on it is says --"spark control computer ---solid state" i never have seen one of these---or here anyone talk about it? does that go on 71 roadrunners??? anyone know anything about this oddity? the top of the air cleaner says 383 four barrel in orange!! this is suppose to be an original motor and trans--

gary
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My Cars: '71 GTX Gold Leaf Met.440 A/T

Re: spark control computer solid state????

Post by gary » Thu Nov 08, 2012 1:40 am

That air cleaner assy W/ESC is not for your car.It was used in mid to late '70's & '80's Mopars. :beer:

RICK71ROADRUNNERFJ6
Satellite Coupe (RL)
Posts: 19
Joined: Thu Nov 01, 2012 2:07 am
My Cars: 1971 sassy grass green roadrunner---with full vinyle black top
1971 hugger orange chevelle
Location: SAN ANTONIO -TEXAS

Re: spark control computer solid state????

Post by RICK71ROADRUNNERFJ6 » Thu Nov 08, 2012 3:13 am

that is discouraging if that is true!! oh well--- i will do some further investigating

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471Magnum
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Re: spark control computer solid state????

Post by 471Magnum » Thu Nov 08, 2012 9:31 am

gary wrote:That air cleaner assy W/ESC is not for your car.It was used in mid to late '70's & '80's Mopars. :beer:
Yep
-Jim
"I can fix it... my old man is a television repairman... he's got the ULTIMATE set of tools... I can fix it."
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Uppy
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My Cars: Present: 1971 Plymouth GTX
Past: 1970 Dodge Coronet 500
1973 Dodge Charger SE

Re: spark control computer solid state????

Post by Uppy » Thu Nov 08, 2012 4:07 pm

Too funny, my dads New Yorker (440) had that on it. Basically its a very early version of a PCM. Unfortunately, they were very sensitive to heat and caused the board inside to crack. Failure rate was pretty high on them, of course when you stick it directly over the motor, it's bound to get hot! Bad engineering, not one of Chryslers shining moments.

gcoupe72
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My Cars: 1972 Road Runner originally equipped as lemon twist,400,4spd,air grabber,performance axle pkg.,bk. interior.
Location: North Carolina

Re: spark control computer solid state????

Post by gcoupe72 » Fri Nov 16, 2012 12:03 pm

Most people referred to this system, which included the ignition and carburetor, as "Lean Burn"
Initially, this was thought to be pretty cool. When first introduced, these cars met emission standards WITHOUT catalytic converters! Eventually the converter was added.
If you got a good one, it worked well for years, unfortunately many failed and were replaced with the Direct Connection electronic ignition conversion kit, AT THE DEALERSHIP! Don't think they'd get away with that today!
I remember seeing a lot of 400 Cordobas with this setup, perhaps that's where your engine came from?

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