Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

I've always thought these were the coolest looking aftermarket ignition boxes from back-in-the-day. I've also wondered about their origin. Here are 3 pics form the same magazine in 1969.

Does anyone know what the electrical tape/ sticker is to the right of the Phase III sticker? I don't think the majority of the boxes had this, and I was wondering if it was used to cover up another manufacturer's name. Any other theories?

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...k%20CD/cd2.jpg

This pic is in several mags, but I tried to scan it form the new Motion book in hopes it would be a little clearer. Does anyone know what it might say? My pop is speculating it might have the ignition tune data.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...k%20CD/cd1.jpg

This is a pic from earlier on in the magazine.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...20CD/cd3-1.jpg

This is a page out of a Motion catalog.
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...k%20CD/cd4.jpg

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

And thats what I was after..

http://i745.photobucket.com/albums/x...ars/jd5154.jpg

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

After what?

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

To get this of the smog tubes and headers subject andback on topic...

Anyone care to discuss these old CD boxes?

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Just took the 2 i have out of the boxes .It say's nothing & the fin tapers on the side. Looked at it 2 & 3 times , can't figure why those have electrical tape. The sticker on the side say's "Basic tune-up specifications for computer" then at the very bottom of the basic instructions it say's (for further information contact) CLIFFORD RESEARCH & DEV. CO. INC. Costa Mesa, CA USA . Jeff

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

I have four of these original boxes, complete with wires to boot, not a single one has tape or evidence of it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...rkIgnition.jpg

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: owners2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">... The sticker on the side say's &quot;Basic tune-up specifications for computer&quot; then at the very bottom of the basic instructions it say's (for further information contact) CLIFFORD RESEARCH &amp; DEV. CO. INC. Costa Mesa, CA USA . Jeff </div></div>

Here is one what has the Clifford / Jacobs connection:

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...rdignition.jpg

I've also seen them come in Red and Blue boxes, although I think the Balc is the most common and also the best looking.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ompusensor.jpg

Now is there a known timeline these boxes? I know the names have changed form Compusensor to several other names. Notice this one here has the Jacons name on the switch.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...cobsswitch.jpg

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MosportGreen66</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have four of these original boxes, complete with wires to boot, not a single one has tape or evidence of it.</div></div>

Are you refering to a Jacobs kit like this?

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...0CD/jacobs.jpg

Has anyone ever seen an original Phase III box and how it was delivered by Motion? I wonder if Joel got the manufacturer to apply his sticker, or if he would do it internally. You can kinda see there was an Motion specific instruction book in the catalog picture above.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

I appreciate the &quot;Back in the Day&quot; look.. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]
But my question.Is there a notable difference in performance?

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

It's a good ignition box. There are several articles from back in the day that reference gains and how they enable you to tune better. I don't think we need to argue the merits of improved ignition, and historically this box has worked well and delivered serious hp. It is the only one Joel really marketed heavily for his Phase III cars, and I beleive it is because it worked and was reliable.

To tell you the truth, I feel all of the basic CD ignitions (MSD included) made in the 1970's were higher quality than those offered today. Now there are even better units available today too, but for a basic CD system, the older ones are better. Not sure if it is becasue the internal electronic parts were higher quality or if it had more to do with the lower volume and better attention during production.

MSD has had a reputation recently of making boxes that fail with greater frequency than they used to. Many racers have an extra box on hand, and end up using it. Funny how MSD now offers a lifetime warranty on ther 40yr special adition 6AL.

Given the choice between say a new MSD 6al and one of the boxes form above, would not think twice about using a Phase III Super Spark box. Matter of fact, that is what we plan to run on my sister's L88 Nova. It does help that it looks cool too.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Your sister has an L88 powered Nova? Is she single?

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

OT, but I have two sisters, Eileen and Monica. Monica is the youngest and sorry- she's married. Her Nova is finally rolling along again and should be getting warapped up within the next year if things work out.

Here is Eileen's Camaro. She built it as a teenager and has been done for almost 15 years!
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...how2002006.jpg

Both girls were heavily involved in building their cars.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Reviving the thread with a cross post form another.

The &quot;other&quot; popular motion ignition box seemed to be Mark Ten B as seen on these two cars

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...ture4085-1.jpg


http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/j...icture4095.jpg

I've heard they were or were similar to an equivelant HeathKit. Nice to see these old boxes also working on these cars.

I'm not sure if there was a rhyme or reason to which box would be used, but I really think the black box looks the best.

Popular Science Dec 1974
http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...CD/markten.jpg

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

I don't think the MARK TEN boxes were used until 70+ on the BM Cars. I had a 70 BM Chevelle that came with the MARK TEN box. had date coded diodes correct for the car build date, so assumed it was still the original one to the car.

My 68 and 69 had the Phase III Box.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

You may have a good point. Can anyone check any old Motion literature to see when the Phase III SUper Spark seems to first show up, and also the Mark Ten unit? I think the one I have is a 1970 unit and it's over at my dad's right now.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

I have some of the red boxes stashed away. I think I still have a couple of the blue ones too.


Tommy [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img]

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

does anyone have one of these phase III boxes for sale?
joe

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

The one I had posted for sale here didn't generate any interest. I posted it on ebay and got what I wanted. I do have a few others used and NOS. I would be willing to part with. All are jacobs style with the generic (non Jacobs branded) switch. I can include a reproduction Phase III sticker.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Like some have posted earlier about manufacturers, most of todays parts have slight improvements over the past. Good stuff!

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

My '69 Road Runner always had trouble starting in damp weather (you could spit next to that car and it didn't want to start!) I installed a Delta Mark 10 CD unit and I never had another problem. Also, the points lasted 3 times as long. It was the same unit as the Heathkit. They were offered with and without a red button on the side to disable it while tuning so the dwell meter could pick up the signal. I collected a few of them over the years but never hooked one up again.
Great idea at the time.
When I bought my last '62, it came with one and the original owner saved all the literature for it including some correspondence he had with the company regarding how to make the factory tach work with it.
Verne

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

PXTX
Grant (The maker of steering wheels and helmets) made the boxes for Joel-or most likely Joel bought the boxes from them and added his own decal. Grant was selling these ignition boxes back in 1968 and they were black and were 100% identical to the boxes Joel sold.

I always thought Jacobs did not even start as a company until 1973-1974 ish anyway-and they said they got their their start due to the 1970's energy crisis?.

Jacobs was the one that probabaly got the box molds from Grant when they got out of the CD ignition business and concentrated on steering wheels.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Motion used the Grant CD box and Grant did the decal and made a special instruction booklet with the Phase III logo on it.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ntingition.jpg

Recently another SYC member posted this and I saved it quickly. I'm sorry I did not make a note of who posted, but thank you for sharing.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: JoeC</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Motion used the Grant CD box and Grant did the decal and made a special instruction booklet with the Phase III logo on it.

</div></div>

Recently Adam Tuckman shwred this original paperwork with me. I have to saw I was surprised that the silver sticker with is original, is actually very similar to the reproductions. I was also surprised that it wasn't more like the aluminum foil sticker of the OE boxes.

Paperwork looks in this example to be the OE one with a sticker over the Grant name. Is anyone willing to share that the Motion paperwork produced by Grant? I would love to see this.

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...SEIIICD1_1.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...SEIIICD1_2.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...SEIIICD1_3.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...SEIIICD1_4.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...SEIIICD1_5.jpg

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Just found where the Grant ad was form. Mayhem posted form an August 1970 Hot Rod mag seen in his thread here: https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...674#Post470674

Thanks Mayhem!

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

I believe Adam's booklet is the one that Grant did. It is shown in some of the old Motion ads for the CD box.

Original CD boxes with the original Phase III decal are very hard to find. In many years of collecting, I have only seen three of them.
Two were found with Motion cars and one I found at a LI swap meet many years ago and I still have it.

Some of the repop decals out there are not correct.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

This pic is in several mags, but I tried to scan it form the new Motion book in hopes it would be a little clearer. Does anyone know what it might say? My pop is speculating it might have the ignition tune data.

I read it as:

PRODUCTION UNIT ????
ASSIGNED TO BO LAWS
FOR TESTING AT NHRA
WINTERNATIONALS


http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...k%20CD/cd1.jpg

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Now that is good vision. I believe you are correct.
Now everyone will be using their label maker and adding something like this to their boxes.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

I think that one was labled because it was the first one then the pictures were re-used in a few places

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

I have a Delta Mark Ten CD ignition box,Its the the kit that you had to put together yourself-its Never been used and has All the parts,But I do not have the instruction's on how to put it all together,it even came with the Decals that you have to put on yourself,I have the original Box it came in and its dated Dec 26,1968-The Box is STILL marked with the original buyer of the kit-I have his full name &amp;address on the box-
The stamp is marked with &quot;SUPERIOR PRODUCTS SENSIBLY PRICED&quot;
If any one has the directions or know's how they need to be put together-Please get back to me-I collect DAY2 items-I have everything that belongs to this except them instructions.If there is any interest in what the unassembled kit looks like with all the correct and rare parts that go in this box-let me know and I will post pic's.....

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

I've got one of those nos builder kits with the instructions. I'll send you a p.m. with my contact info.



<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 4onthefloor</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have a Delta Mark Ten CD ignition box,Its the the kit that you had to put together yourself-its Never been used and has All the parts,But I do not have the instruction's on how to put it all together,it even came with the Decals that you have to put on yourself,I have the original Box it came in and its dated Dec 26,1968-The Box is STILL marked with the original buyer of the kit-I have his full name &amp;address on the box-
The stamp is marked with &quot;SUPERIOR PRODUCTS SENSIBLY PRICED&quot;
If any one has the directions or know's how they need to be put together-Please get back to me-I collect DAY2 items-I have everything that belongs to this except them instructions.If there is any interest in what the unassembled kit looks like with all the correct and rare parts that go in this box-let me know and I will post pic's..... </div></div>

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Quick Check on the net lead me to these. Are these missing any or are the instructions more step-by-step?

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...-schematic.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...-schematic.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ion/boxten.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ructions01.jpg

http://i710.photobucket.com/albums/w...ructions02.jpg

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Here are some pics of my Delta Mark 10 CD box-inside&amp;out...
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/S5000073.jpg
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/S5000077.jpg
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...r/S5000078.jpg
http://i852.photobucket.com/albums/a...S5000080-1.jpg

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Motion was using the gold Delta box in the early 1970s.
The ad for it shows the 1970 Motion drag car in white.
The 70 drag car was first red ribbon paint in 1970, then white about 1971, then was painted yellow thru the early 1970s.

Motion put a large black &quot;Phase III&quot; decal on it.
The gold box with a Phase III decal is a nice low cost day two item

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

The instructions for the builder kit consist of several pages. It gives very specific, detailed directions on things like location of components, soldering, etc.

Re: Phase III super Spark CD boxes
 

Your in luck. I have two copies of the instructions. 26 pages.