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-   -   Plug wire routing (http://www.clubcobra.com/forums/originality-forum/117770-plug-wire-routing.html)

kevins2 10-25-2012 09:55 AM

Plug wire routing
 
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 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 10-25-2012 08:30 PM

Sports Car Graphic circa 1966:
http://i679.photobucket.com/albums/v..._1965Large.jpg

Bobcat 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 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 10-28-2012 05:18 AM

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

mickmate 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 10-31-2012 02:16 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Csx 2128

migge 10-31-2012 02:21 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Csx 2110

kevins2 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 10-31-2012 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaydee (Post 1216851)
Personally I like the look of it going around the covers. Cleaner looking.
JD

Cleaner looking? Agreed. Proper and original? No. ;)

DMXF 10-31-2012 08:23 PM

'65 vintage lightweight 427, as prepared by Ford:
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ead_Engine.jpg

ACademic 10-31-2012 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMXF (Post 1217314)
'65 vintage lightweight 427, as prepared by Ford:

Gulp! Hey, you learn something new everyday. :LOL:

Please allow me to correct my previous statement:

Cleaner looking? Agreed. Proper and original in a Cobra? No. :3DSMILE:

DanEC 11-01-2012 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMXF (Post 1217314)
'65 vintage lightweight 427, as prepared by Ford:
http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...ead_Engine.jpg

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

Jerry Clayton 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 11-01-2012 08:17 AM

Cobra plug wire routing
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by ACademic (Post 1217326)
Proper and original in a Cobra? No. :3DSMILE:

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 11-02-2012 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMXF (Post 1217369)
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 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 12-13-2012 12:10 PM

Lightweight engines
 
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 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.


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