Plug wire routing

kevins2 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 09:55 AM

I've read a couple of threads about the pros and cons of routing plug wires over the valve covers vs. running them around the front and then down the sides of the valve covers.

From an originality standpoint the photos I've seen indicate that, for both big block and small block cars, the plug wires were typically routed over the valve covers. Not sure if that was always the case, or it just doesn't really matter (again from an originality standpoint). I'm certainly not an originality expert so wanted to put this out there for your thoughts.

Regards,

Kevin

52chevyred · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 05:17 PM

Look in my gallery. I just posted wires over the valve cover and where I
installed Moroso wire seperators (4, 3 2) with a post at the front top cover bolt.

52chevyred Gallery - Club Cobra Photo Gallery

ERA Chas · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2012, 08:30 PM

Sports Car Graphic circa 1966:

Bobcat · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2012, 08:08 AM

ERAChas .... notice anything odd about the fuel line that goes to the fuel filter ? Looks like it comes from the oil filter .... which we both know can`t be . Looks like to me that there is a block off plate on the timing cover and the fuel line was just left hanging .... probably for an electric pump to be added later.
Somewhere I`ve got a copy of the plug wire routing that Ford used that was sent to me by Gregg Donahue when I was restoring my 427 Galaxie . I`ll try to dig it up this weekend , scan it in and post it .
O.T. .... are you going to get hit this weekend by the "perfect storm" ?

Bob

ERA Chas · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2012, 10:11 AM

Yes Bob, looks like that-but it's not. The pump does have a block-off plate and the line from the canister is hanging down with a nut on the flare fitting. That's right where a Carter of Holley mechanical outlet would be. Dunno why they took the pic like that but it's a look at the motor in'66.
Perfect or imperfect-yes, it's coming.

Jaydee · #6 (**permalink**) 10-28-2012, 05:18 AM

Personally I like the look of it going around the covers. Cleaner looking.
JD

mickmate · #7 (**permalink**) 10-28-2012, 08:09 AM

Pentroof and cast ribbed valve covers all have the clip on top of the valve covers for the plug wire holder.

migge · #8 (**permalink**) 10-31-2012, 02:16 AM

Csx 2128

migge · #9 (**permalink**) 10-31-2012, 02:21 AM

Csx 2110

kevins2 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-31-2012, 06:18 AM

It appears that CSX 2110 took somewhat of a hybrid approach

.

Thanks for the responses - interesting stuff.

Regards,

Kevin

ACademic · #11 (**permalink**) 10-31-2012, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaydee

Personally I like the look of it going around the covers. Cleaner looking.
JD

Cleaner looking? Agreed. Proper and original? No.

DMXF · #12 (**permalink**) 10-31-2012, 08:23 PM

'65 vintage lightweight 427, as prepared by Ford:

ACademic · #13 (**permalink**) 10-31-2012, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMXF

'65 vintage lightweight 427, as prepared by Ford:

Gulp! Hey, you learn something new everyday.

Please allow me to correct my previous statement:

Cleaner looking? Agreed. Proper and original in a Cobra? No.

DanEC · #14 (**permalink**) 11-01-2012, 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMXF

'65 vintage lightweight 427, as prepared by Ford:

Were they milling choke horns off of Holleys as far back as 1965?

Jerry Clayton · #15 (**permalink**) 11-01-2012, 07:08 AM

Valve covers are on the wrong side and #7 and #8 plug wires should be separated--should be #7,#5,#6,#8 over the valve cover on left side to prevent cross firing of those two cylinders

DMXF · #16 (**permalink**) 11-01-2012, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ACademic

Proper and original in a Cobra? No.

Probably Academic, but Shelby American was receiving lightweight engines from Ford for the Cobra over some period of time and it is unclear whether later shipments (for the Cobra) had plug wires configured around the side. The 427's were typically blown up by the time a few races had gone by, the SCCA outlawed the aluminum head engines much of the time and combined with the lack of many period engine photos, we may never know. The plug wire routing was a running change in the way the E&F Experimental group was configuring these. The 289 race cars with webers and air boxes had wires routed more around the front outside of the engine to clear it all, so if the 427 team cars had actually happened, I suspect you would have seen the side wire routing as more of a regular scenario.

ACademic · #17 (**permalink**) 11-02-2012, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMXF

Probably Academic, but Shelby American was receiving lightweight engines from Ford for the Cobra over some period of time and it is unclear whether later shipments (for the Cobra) had plug wires configured around the side. The 427's were typically blown up by the time a few races had gone by, the SCCA outlawed the aluminum head engines much of the time and combined with the lack of many period engine photos, we may never know. The plug wire routing was a running change in the way the E&F Experimental group was configuring these. The 289 race cars with webers and air boxes had wires routed more around the front outside of the engine to clear it all, so if the 427 team cars had actually happened, I suspect you would have seen the side wire routing as more of a regular scenario.

An interesting perspective and thank you for sharing. The guys in the shop installed whatever came in the crates. I would suspect that both plug wire routings were experienced at some point during each thrash.

patty442 · #18 (**permalink**) 12-13-2012, 10:29 AM

The photo depicted is yes a light weight 427 recovered from the photo archives of DMXF, but it is clearly and definitely not a 427 Cobra lightweight engine. Without knowing your source, the photo is a GT40 lightweight as indicated by the dry sump pan configuration. Mike you should know better.

DMXF · #19 (**permalink**) 12-13-2012, 12:10 PM

Ok Bob, I will explain. The picture was simply showing there was a configuration that Ford made with plug wires around the side of the valve cover and I did not label it as Cobra specific. If you read carefully will see that I agreed with Academic in that it was probably not delivered in Cobras (clearly not typical), although with the caveat that there is a possibility that some may have made it into late comp cars. The build sheets used by Ford's Engine & Foundry Experimental Group, where the lightweight engines were all assembled, by 1966 only showed one version that could have been ordered by outfits like Shelby American. While the basic design didn't change too much, by this time the engines would have have been optimized for the primary usage, the GT40. So, for example, if SA was to order a lightweight MR engine for the Cobra in '66, it would have had the C6FE heads, not the C5, etc. There is a reasonable probability that those later engines may have had the around the side plug wires too. BTW, this configuration is also what would have likely been on the team car engines if there ever was a full factory effort, as the standard plug wires are too tight against the 58mm carbs and especially wouldn't clear airboxes that SA typically set the cars up with.

patty442 · #20 (**permalink**) 12-16-2012, 09:49 AM

Mike. Nice reasonable probabilty, would have been, assume, appears, good story... Sure. You are completely missing the point on the lightweight motors, and plug wire configuration, and specific applications. The reason your GT40 light weight motor photo, NOT Cobra, shows around the front wires is they have to go around the front in a 427 engined, GT40. No discussion, as your friend Steve alluded to. The headers, over the top, -- bundle of snakes -- over the valve cover pipes, preclude a wire configuration of the stock COBRA style ignition wire route. The 58mm carburetor clearance story sounds good also but ... I actually, really, ran my current motor on the dyno with a 4 bbl , 2- 4bbls, 48 mm webers, and 58mm weber, not to mention five different camshafts. Again for Steve, no Dreaming here. We used the same , over the valve cover, stock location, perfectly tailored ignition wire set on each of the carburetor set ups. Finally, yes, you can run plug wires any way you want in Cobra, if you don't care what is historically correct.