Spark plug wire replacement

[Charles P.]

Has anyone ever successfully changed all 8 spark plug wires on an L48 350 1973 without the aid of a lift? The rear wires on both side seem straight forward. The front 2 wires on the passenger side seem to go behind the starter. They reappear from a tunnel ascending to the front 2 plugs. Any hints to doing this easily/am I pretty much confined to using a lift? I am reinstalling the date coded wires. Does the starter need to be dropped?

[mike mccagh]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

starter can stay. wires can be replaced layin on yer back but i'd be nice if you had a couple midgets to route the wires for ya.you will almost certainly have to remove the bomarangs(tunnel in your terminology). i have replaced plug wires on c-1s by removing the engine tranny assembly rather than deal with plug replacemment with engine in place. usually had another issue to deal with besides plug wire replacement though. when i have a choice, i replace plug wires with engine on engine stand. don't be discouraged, it can be done. good luck, mike

[Patrick H.]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

Agreed.

I replaced the wires on my 72 in 2000 (when my friend still owned it) right in my garage. As Mike notes, you will have to remove all ignition shielding and likely the "boomerangs" but it's not as tough as you make it sound. If I recall, the boots will have to come off one end or the other to thread the wire through the motor mount area.

See a recent thread on this same topic. Unless you're having your car judged, I wouldn't use the dated wires.

I'd rather replace spark plug wires than have to remove a power brake booster on that same car.

Patrick

[mike mccagh]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

pat: ever replaced an AC evaporator on a c-3 with engine in place? only a six pack waiting to be attacked after the job finished is incentive enough for me.i'd rather sort polecats. regards, mike

[Patrick H.]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

Mike,

It helps if you take off the hood.

And what the heck are YOU doing touching a C3???

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

Patrick,
You might be surprised at what is in Mike's collection. If you ever get a chance to visit The Farm, don't pass on it.

[Charles P.]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

This is 18 big points at an upcoming show. I searched back to early 04 archives on this subject before posting. I guess the word is these wires are not reliable or is it more when you disassemble the boots for threading through the motor mount area that they get issues? Bear with me on this. Could I cut the plug boot off the existing front 2 wires and friction tape the boot from the new wire and pull it through towards the distributor? Or is there not enough clearance back there? This would save disassembly of the wire.

[Harmon C.]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

Charles

Their is enough room to pull the wire through as you stated but the V shied needs to be loose or off.

Lyle

[Joe R.]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

Hi Charles:

I successfully replaced the wires on my 67 without removing the V-shields, but I did all the work from underneath with the front end up on jack stands. I see that other respondents say the V-shiels have to come off, so maybe the situation is worse on a C3. In my case it went pretty well, but you need to be comfortable, patient, and have good lighting.

Anyway, the method I used was to remove the small rubber cap on the distributor end of the wire, and attach about 18 inches of thin (very flexible) steel wire to the distributer end. Then I threaded the steel wire through the V-shield, starting at the spark plug end, and *gently* threaded the spark plug wire through. You must avoid putting undue stress on the cable termination, especially if it is one of those crummy dated reproductions.

In my case I was able to thread the steel wire out the bottom and sides of the V-shield, which made it easier to pull the cable straight through in two steps (first leg of the V, then the second leg) without having to drag the cable through the entire V in one step.

[mike cobine]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

Now you know why so many cars "lost" their shelding.

[Brent Pursifull]

Re: Spark plug wire replacement

I used this method by working under the car while my friend gently pulled the wire through on my 73 L82. I just loosened the shield a little and teased it thru. I taped the wires together and worked fine.