Hey everyone, some of you know that I am new to the Z car. I am just cleaning and taking account of everything that looks like and need fixed on the car. The one thing that is confusing me is this "black box" on the drivers side fender. It is under the coil and voltage block to the right side of them. Can anyone tell me what it is and what it does?

It looks like part of an electronic ignition system to me.

Yep it does look like one. Pop the dizzy cap off and see if you have points or not.

Would need to see a better, closer picture. There looks to be some writing on it that may take all or most of the guess work out of it.

Looks like an old Alison ignition system, mine died many years ago, ran good while it lasted.

It has to be aftermarket. The stock transistor ignition unit is located under the dash.

Ok here we go again, sometimes I don't thnk so good :stupid:. It is an Allison Ignition and as far as I can tell the Dizzy has been changed to an optical set up?? I am probably wrong. The stock ignition box is still in the car under the dash and still hooked up. Now if the dizzy has been converted and this allison piece has gone to a better place (died) are my options limited? And should it be tied into the stock box? Sorry for the bad pic to begin with I will post better pics from now on.

That's a tough one. Not being familiar with the Allison setup, I'm not sure how it's wired or what's been done to the stock setup to adapt it. Those are definately not stock internals for a 260Z distributor. Maybe installing an E12-80 (ZX) distributor would be easier, and less costly than correcting that one.

Yes, INDEED! Get a later zx distributor and do a little basic wiring, and believe me, it is very basic, as the new distributor has two wires: one is hot, so put it to 12 volts, and the other goes to coil (-) Negative side. AS to the other junk, unwire and leave, or take it out and put it on a shelf somewhere. You will see quicker RPM rise and instant starting every time. Big, fat spark!

Don't forget that the distributor has to 'complete' the tach circuit or the car won't run.

Edited September 2, 200818 yr by sblake01

Well I want to thank everyone for the info, it makes changing it out a little easier thought. I want something in there that I will understand and that Allison looked too strange to me and inside the dizzy was worse. So after my little Military trip I will start looking the parts yard for an E12-80 which as I understand should come out of a 79-81

Bill