Juice box?!

[djvanyel]

Ok, so last night my 87 up and died on me at a stoplight from which there was no recovery.  After diagnosis, it was found that no spark was to blame and the little module bolted to the passenger wheel well with a "Juice Box" sticker on it is probably the culprit.

In true Eagle fashion, the manufacturer seems to have vanished along with most of the forums that contained information on the finer points of this upgrade.  From what I've been able to garner from many searches, it seems this is just a (possibly more expensive) pre-packaged Motorcraft TFI upgrade, but my mechanic and I are having a bit of a disagreement on whether or not this little module is just a coil or whether it has some other component to it as well.  I think it's just the TFI coil in a fancy package, but he seems to think there's more to it.

Does anyone know if it's just a fancy looking re-packaged high-voltage coil? 

[Mechanic]

Juice box? Never heard of it.

I'm assuming your not talking the ignition module. But does it look like one?? A picture would come in handy for sure.

[djvanyel]

Juice box? Never heard of it.

I'm assuming your not talking the ignition module. But does it look like one?? A picture would come in handy for sure.

Here's the only image I've found online.  The module I'm referring to is the triangular shaped box in the picture.  On my car I notice that the distributor lead is connected to the post jutting upwards in the picture and I couldn't see where the other wires run to.  It's also got a sticker on it from driveajeep.com which is now defunct.  My mechanic is of the opinion that it contains both the ignition module and the coil, but I'm not so sure.  I noticed the large, grey, square, metal box (had a NAPA logo on it) next to it which I always thought was the ignition module/engine "computer", leading me to believe this odd shaped module is only a coil.



Any ideas?

[eaglefreek]

That's just a coil from a Ford vehicle, aka TFI coil. The juice box was just a package of the parts to do the TFI upgrade. Ford distributor cap, rotor, cap adapter, TFI coil, and plug wires. You can pick up that coil from any auto parts store. If your "mechanic" is telling you it's just a coil, he is 100% correct. If not find another mechanic. 

[djvanyel]

Ok, because the extra wiring harness at the bottom has thrown us both for a loop.  It seems to have too many wires to just be a coil, but I can't think of anything else it could be for since I've performed the TFI upgrade on my '83 as the guide says and I didn't do any changing of the ignition module.

So am I right in saying that if I just go and get a new coil I should be running again?

I bought a Pertronix coil for my '83 so will likely do so for this one since they seem to be widely regarded as the better choice.

[djvanyel]

Well after diagnosis, it seems that the Juice Box module is just a coil and, sadly, was in good working order.  We traced the fault to the ignition module and have the car running on the box from my '83 wagon 

[Jurjen]

Here is the juicebox gold 6:

http://www.crtperformance.com/html/tfi.html

Please check the primary resistance on the juicebox coil, if it is anything below 1.35 Ohms it will fry the next ignition module too.

[djvanyel]

Please check the primary resistance on the juicebox coil, if it is anything below 1.35 Ohms it will fry the next ignition module too.

Good tip Jurjen, I wouldn't have thought to check that.  We'll have to add that to the list of things to do.

Egg to you!

[Jurjen]

You can also check the IM after some city driving or 15min of idling, when it gets really hot, you know that the primary resisatntance of the coil is too low.
This IM can switch about 4 to 5A which equals about 3 Ohms.
The original coil is 1.35 Ohm and the resistor wire is also 1.35 Ohm (together 2.7 Ohm).
That why I advise to use a 3 Ohm (Pertronix) coil when the resistor wire is by-passed.

[GRONK]

It's just a simple TFI distributor upgrade w/ a fance sticker on it (and china electronics)  I'm familiar with the kit and the seller who sold it.

This is the same TFI kit I sell for $85 only I use better parts and include all the parts boxes so you can get replacements.

The "Juice Box" seller is a DB.  I sent a lot of business his way for years until I found out he wasn't supporting his customers.  I have replaced a lot of parts for his kits over the years.

I can send you any part #'s you need or I can get you the parts.