fe spark plug wire routing?

[wrench87]

i know you can start your plug wires where ever you want , but what is the best place to put # 1 to get a clean plug wire routing?. i have seen old articles with # 1 at the five past if looking at a clock.
i have not decided if i am going to route them over the valve cover or along side the valve cover just looking for opiniions.

[FWB]

personally i think its a pain in the arse to route them along the VC's, its hard enough to get at the plugs in the recesses of the head without the wires in the way too. i opt for over the VC......

Fred

[Jerry Clayton]

And on the left side of the engine, over the valve cover the order for the wires position is 7,5,6,8 to eliminate crossfiring between 7 and 8

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

And on the left side of the engine, over the valve cover the order for the wires position is 7,5,6,8 to eliminate crossfiring between 7 and 8

... and Jerry knows I changed my routing on the driver's VC just to make him happy. But to answer the OP's question, I like the #1 plug at around 11:00 o'clock if you're standing in front of the car staring at the front of the engine. That's not the way it came from the factory, but it works well and helps to separate 7 and 8. Here's a pic:

[patrickt]

This is what Jerry's talking about. For years I had blue looms and the order as 5,6,7,8 and never had a misfire. But, when I changed out to black looms I said "WTF, if it makes Jerry happy..." and changed the order.

[Jerry Clayton]

I knew you'd come thru Patrickt
Back in the old days of the FEs, people would take there car to local gas station(remember that the mech had to go outside and pump gas, check oil, tire pressure AND clean the windshiels) As he went back and forth, the wires on the right side got put on correctly(1,2,3,4) and the left side sorta the same way--right in order of how they were on the vc loom bracket---5,6,7,8 which ended up with 3 cylinders being wrong wire/plug

[wrench87]

i never understood that, if you have good wires how is it going to misfire. i wonder if it is even possible with todays wires?.

[RICK LAKE]

wrench87 The spark plug wire splitters where metal with a plastic of rubber coating on them. Voltage from the coil was maybe 28-35,000 volts. Over time the coating rubbed off. The vibration from the motor would start to rub through the outter cover and on moist morning you would get spark arching out the the wire holder. The spark looks for the easiest way to ground. When the outter cover leaks sometimes it goes to the next or other closest wire and fire the spark plug. 7 & 8 are next to each other in the firing order and you get a prefire. Moving the wires helps alot IF the splitter is not metal or a material that can transfer spark to another wire. Igntion systems with 60-100,000 volts and multi spark will find and weak wire caesing and cause this. Rick L.

[wrench87]

i would think you would have to have more then one wire leaking, if that is the case you have other problems. rick what is your thoughts on where to start # 1 for a neat appearing plug wire routing?. steve t