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I am trying to replace the spark plug wires on my 1966 corvette coupe L79 327. The engine is in the car. I have removed all of the shielding. I am having problems removing and replacing the two front spark plug wires on both sides of the engine. The wires are routed between the block and motor mounts. There is not enough room to pull or push the spark plug end of the wires between the block and motor mounts. I have all the wires loose except for the area between the block and motor mounts. How do you get the wires out of this area and the new wires in? Please help! Thank you.
Vwiggins
You have to get under the car and remove the "V" shaped metal pieces that are bolted to the block the the front wires go through. I did this whole thing about 15 years ago when I was a little more spry, and it seems like I was under the car several times in the process. Changing spark plug wires on a radio equipped C2 small block is one of the worst automotive chores I can think of.
Thanks for the reply. I have been under the car and removed the shielding including the v shape lower piece that houses the front two wires. I can see the entire length of the wires except the small inch portion between the motor mount and block. I just can't figure out how to get the front two wires on both side of the engine out from between the engine block and motor mount. There is almost no space between the motor mount and engine block. Do you have to losses the motor from the mount? Thanks for the help. P My engine is in the car. I found this picture online. Notice how front two spark plug wires run between motor mount and block before entering the lower v shape section of shield.
If the plugs you are removing are old you can just pull the boot and connector off of the end and the bare wire will just pull through however to install your new wires through the mount you need to jack up the mount slightly to take the load off of it and remove the bolt. Then install your new wires and replace the bolt. Good luck it is a tough job.
It's not a tough job but it can be a PIA if you don't take your time. Remove and install the front two wires on each side by pulling them out so the distributor boot comes through the motor mount. When you install them through the mount wet the wire and boot with some dielectric grease between your thumb and fore finger so the rubber is not sticky.
Make sure you have the lengths correct and pay attention to the #8/#4 and #5/#7 wires in the vertical looms so they don't cross fire. Just turn some music on and take your time to do it right the first time. If the sparks are old it may be a good time to change them because the shields are removed from the engine.
I forgot to mention put a dab of dielectric grease inside the spark plug boot so it does not stick to the plug.
You can feed the new wires from the top down, between the block and the motor mounts with the distributor boots in place. Pull the boots back a few inches and feed the wire through first. Apply some silicone grease to the boot and, pulling on the portion of the wire you just fed through, you can coax the boot through. If you can remove the distributor boot from the wire it's real easy to then feed the wire through & replace the boot.
Phil
Now that the other guys mentioned it, I seem to remember loosening the motor mount bolts and jacking the engine up slightly. I think that's what caused the multiple trips under the car.
Now that the other guys mentioned it, I seem to remember loosening the motor mount bolts and jacking the engine up slightly. I think that's what caused the multiple trips under the car.
Just to add to the mix, this was my recent experience. For the spark plug wires that feed through the V-shields each wire to be replaced was removed from the distributor cap. The boot was removed from the spark plug and the wire pulled through about 8 inches, or so. The spark plug boot then was cut off the old wire. On the new wire the metal distributor terminal and was removed to allow the spark plug boot to slide off the end easily. The old spark plug wire and the new wire ends were overlapped a few inches and taped around with electrical tape. The old wire was used as a 'pull cord' to pull the new wire through the motor mount and V-shield. It took a little finagling by pulling on the old wire, while also helping push the new wire through. Pulling through the second wire was a little harder.
Dielectric grease helped smooth things out.
John
This is a very timely thread as I'm in the process of replacing the plug wires on my 66 L79 this weekend!
f you can remove the distributor boot from the wire it's real easy to then feed the wire through & replace the boot.
This is what I plan to do as I can get the distributor boots off the new set rather easily.
If you are not a purist go to NAPA and buy the premium wire set. These wires are made by Belden cable company and they specialize in cables of all sorts. The 7mm wire insulation is made from a silicone jacket that allows routing them in looms and such pretty easy. This way you will not commit the cardinal sin of using dielectric grease to aid your instillation.
Actually . . . I bought my set thru LIC's . . . they only sell one wire set - made by K&B out of Atlanta. They are produced using original tooling using Packard's "dual coated core" which lasts 100K miles. These should work for my car just fine!
10-26-2018, 09:56 PM
Replacing spark plug wires.
That is the way it is done.
