63 spark plug wire terminal ends

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 spark plug wire terminal ends

RJ wrote me a nice note on distributor wire teminals. So now I pass on the info to you or at least tell you where to go read all about them. Look in Noland Adams book on midyears. Read page 164 and then turn to page 166 and look at the info on top left hand corner.
"The distributor wires had 90 degree terminals on late 84 engines with U69". (AM/FM) This info on pg 166.
Now go back and read page164 and you will be amazed to find out out the 90 degree angle ends did not appear until AIM date 5-6-63-again on L84 engines only. This change should have occured around serial number 16,000 or so.
Now go see page 140 for a very nice original photo of a late 63 L84(FI) engine with 90 degree terminals. Read the caption.
Back up to page 136 and see a 63 prototype FI engine with straight terminals.
By the way I guess I am tired as I don't know the difference between a prototype engine and a pilot car engine???
Hanson posted a nice pic of an early pilot car w/FI that has 90 degree terminals. Go figure..
Notice that all pics of 63 carb engines have straight terminals for the distr cap.
Confused? Sure you are. Sorry. JD

Well, I dunno JD. The info on page 164 of the Adams book that refers to the FI spark plug wires in the AIM is only for the unique routing of those wires. That sheet/info was added later in the 63 model run because the routing was slightly different than that used for the straight wire set for all other engines.

The info on the upper left on page 166 does indeed show the unique wire set but there's no date on the sheet and no info that shows it was introduced later in the 63 model year.

The photo of a "late" production car that you refer to on page 140 is actually NOT a late production car. Notice the unplated fuel lines, fuel filter bracket and black painted oil filler tube/cap etc etc? This is actually a very early car and it has 90* spark plug wires.

The car on page 136 that you refer to as a "prototype/early pilot line car is actually a mid 63 production car being fitted with a 64-65 FI unit for testing. Did you notice that the FI unit has no cranking signal valve but does have a starting by-pass switch on the throttle lever? A 64-65 style oil filler tube and no vent tube from the air cleaner to oil filler tube.
We know this is a mid production car because of the hood blocks/wedges and unpainted hood lock plates. Typical of engineering to use a mid production car to test and evaluate components for the next years model.

And finally, WHY in the world would engineering hold up the 90* spark plug wires when they were on paper and in actual physical reality well before start of production in September of 1962?

Nothing in the Noland Adams book has shown me that straight wires were used on early 63 FI cars.

[John D.]

Re: 63 spark plug wire terminal ends

Good response MH. Now lets wait until we hear a response from the guy on the east coast.
I agree that the 90 degree terminals ends were at least in use on the FI cars from day one. JD

[William C.]

Re: 63 spark plug wire terminal ends

No reason to think the 90 degree were used on any Corvette application other than FI, two reasons, the carb enging aim calls for the straight part numbers, and expense. The straight versions were built using a technology that allowed the boot to be blown on the wire before the terminal was applied in a autometed process. The right angle configuration used a manual build, more $$ of cost to the car. Chevy would kill for 1/2 cent in those days, so the use of a higher cost part would only be justified if the car "needed it"

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 spark plug wire terminal ends

Good response MH. Now lets wait until we hear a response from the guy on the east coast.
I agree that the 90 degree terminals ends were at least in use on the FI cars from day one. JD

I wonder how the rest of the owners of early FI 63's feel about this? So far, there has been only five people involved in this discussion.
Anyone else have an opinion, agree/disagree?

[James J.]

Re: 63 spark plug wire terminal ends

When I bought my 63 FI seven years ago it had the straight terminals at the cap. The mileage was 33,796. The owner stated the mileage was true.
I imagined at the time that the wires were original. So when I replaced them, chasing down a problem, I installed straight terminal wires.
It's kind of a bugger to get the shielding on, but it fits.

[James J.]

Re: 63 spark plug wire terminal ends

I just checked Noland Adams myself and came up with info on page 140 stating that late 63 L84's changed from straight boots to 90* to eliminate shorting problems.
Any thoughts on that.

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 spark plug wire terminal ends

I just checked Noland Adams myself and came up with info on page 140 stating that late 63 L84's changed from straight boots to 90* to eliminate shorting problems.
Any thoughts on that.

James, I agree. The drawing and info on page 140 of the Noland Adams book does indeed seem to suggest that the unique 90* wires were introduced around the date mentioned on that page. That's what this discussion is all about.
I don't think it happened that way though. As previously mentioned in this thread, that AIM sheet was definitely added around that time but that doesn't necessarily mean that the wires were added to production on that date.
Prior to that time, there were no specific instructions on the unique routing of the FI spark plug wires. The AIM sheet was most likely added to show the guy on the engine dress line the proper routing.

I believe Noland assumed the sheet marked the time that the wires were first used. Nolands statement is the only statement or indication that this was the case. All other information, including the time that the special 90* wires were produced, the unique part number that appears in very early printings of the 63 parts book and many factory photos of pilot line and early regular production FI cars I think clearly show that the 90* wires were used from start of production.

If the wires were available before SOP for the 63 model, and I KNOW they were, there would be absolutely no logical reason why they wouldn't have been used from the beginning. Engineering obviously knew they had a clearance problem with FI and conventional straight wires for the new car well ahead of time.

Unfortunately though, since the statement is in the Adams book, it will be difficult to unravel the story.

[Stuart F.]

Re: 63 spark plug wire terminal ends

James;

It probably would be helpful if you could relate your 63's production date, or at least it's serial number sequence, i.e. !4,xxx. Also, did you happen to save the old wires or at least note the markings on them?

Stu Fox

[James J.]

Re: 63 spark plug wire terminal ends

Stuart,The production date is Oct. 31, 1962.
No I didn't save the old wires or take note of any markings.
This was before I was aware of the NCRS and I had no idea that such things were of any value.
I also didn't mean to repeat information that was already posted.
Next time I'll read the previous posts more closely.
James