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Curious about plug wire design

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Old Dec 1, 2023 | 04:09 PM
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Default Curious about plug wire design

In 1972, did plug wires mostly have 90 degree both ends? Or 90 at the distributor and straight at the plug.... Thanks
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Old Dec 1, 2023 | 05:39 PM
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Alans 71 SB would be the same


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Old Dec 1, 2023 | 11:30 PM
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Depends on the engine: I believe the small blocks had 90° at the plugs, straight (180°) at the distributor while big blocks had 90° at the distributor, 180° (or 135°) at the plugs.
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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 09:04 AM
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I want to say all of the SB had straight ends at the distributor and they just smushed them over under the shielding (but maybe there is more clearance than on the BB
The BB without the radio shielding had the straight boot at the distributor, the ones with radio shielding had the 90 deg ends at the distributor. (standard "who knows about the 68's" provision apply)
There was a surprising amount of different wires available when I went to GM for a new set way back. Now I use aftermarket and they are whatever
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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 09:05 AM
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Another Alan71 pic


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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 11:04 AM
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Thanks for the responses and the pictures; the last one looks sorta familiar for sure. Very well could have been what I had on mine when I got it 20 yrs ago.... Now I have the bolder 90 degree at the distributor and that 135 at the plugs. BTW, Can that electrical grease, dialectic (sp), be used at the plug end? Thanks
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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 11:51 AM
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I always use a little dielectric grease on a Q-Tip and wipe a small amount the inside of the boot. Not much, just enough so the boot slides on and off without bonding itself to the ceramic.
It's non-conductive so you don't want it up where the actual tip goes into the clip up inside the wire and if you put a big glob in the boot or on the plug it'll get pushed up onto the end as you push it on and that's not where you want it.
I've had mixed results at the distributor end on points style boots, since it's slippery sometimes the wires didn't stay all the way in the cap and tried to slip out a little... Six of one, half dozen of the other
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Old Dec 2, 2023 | 12:01 PM
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Originally Posted by kansas123
BTW, Can that electrical grease, dialectic (sp), be used at the plug end? Thanks
Yes! It helps keep the boot from sticking to the porcelain with the exposure to heat. I rub a pea-sized glob on my finger and schmeer it directly on the porcelain, this to make sure it's all the way around and in the valleys. A glob inside the boot has a good chance of just being pushed onto the electrode with less than 100% coverage all around the porcelain.

I agree with Mooser that at the distributor the grease seems to encourage the boots to slide up the tapered cap tower.
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