C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Spark plug wires

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 10, 2022 | 04:23 PM
  #1  
Golferdad's Avatar
Golferdad
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 988
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Default Spark plug wires

I’m trying to find a good way to place my spark plug wires,and I have put headers on,and although I would love to put them the way they came from the back and underneath,and the drivers side would be pretty easy,but plug number 3 going that way is in the way.and the passenger side,the headers are beside the starter and I have a insulation pad around it,so point is running the wires up,but want it nice and tidy. So,any thoughts on running them along the valve covers. Thanks
Reply
Old May 10, 2022 | 09:11 PM
  #2  
resdoggie's Avatar
resdoggie
Had a 1976 L-82, 4-sp
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
Veteran: Navy
 
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 5,338
Likes: 1,213
From: Some days your the dog and some days your the hydrant.
Royal Canadian Navy
Default

I'm not understanding your problem. The plug wires are snug to the block in the metal wire ways so the headers shouldn't be an issue, nor the starter. Maybe a few pics would help,
Reply
Old May 10, 2022 | 10:00 PM
  #3  
augiedoggy's Avatar
augiedoggy
Le Mans Master
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,028
Likes: 1,120
From: North tonawanda NY
Default

I did away with all that shielding and run wire looms that bolt to the valve cover bolt holes and sit above the sidepipe header..(I have hei now so most of the stock covers that did come in a box with the car wouldnt work). I bought a set of wires designed for such use so the look tidy enough but custom cut to legth wires would have been neater looking. I also use the fiberglass heat boots.heres a bad pic I have to show what I mean.



Last edited by augiedoggy; May 10, 2022 at 10:06 PM.
Reply
Old May 11, 2022 | 09:35 AM
  #4  
Golferdad's Avatar
Golferdad
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 988
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Default

Sorry,I was really asking a good way or wire loom cover to run my wires,and I know the headers and starter shouldn’t be in the way,but on the passenger side of my 1981 it’s very,very tight,but never the less,I have tried and it want run that way,so looking for a different route.
Reply
Old May 11, 2022 | 12:04 PM
  #5  
Kerschmolar's Avatar
Kerschmolar
Pro
Supporting Lifetime
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 648
Likes: 353
From: Portland, Oregon
Default

This set-up on the passenger side has been working well for years.
Reply
Old May 11, 2022 | 12:56 PM
  #6  
Golferdad's Avatar
Golferdad
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 988
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Default

Yea,I cut a couple plastic ties on that side and I think behind the starter there is probably another plastic tie,which I can't see,feel or tell other than the wire want go through the metal piece,and to really be sure the hard tubing line coming from the transmission has to be removed so I can remove the starter to be done correct.
Reply
Old May 11, 2022 | 09:59 PM
  #7  
Bikespace's Avatar
Bikespace
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
Default

When GM installed the plug wires, they did it with the engine removed, so they could feed wires through the engine mounts, and under all the shielding, etc. You have headers. They make everything easier, including wire routing. Go over the top!

I use these wire looms from Amazon, similar to what @augiedoggy has, with some spark plug boot insulators. The looms also help shape the last bend of wire as it approaches the spark plug, helping to keep the wires away from the headers.



Last edited by Bikespace; May 11, 2022 at 10:05 PM.
Reply
Old May 12, 2022 | 08:23 AM
  #8  
Golferdad's Avatar
Golferdad
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 988
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Default

Thanks,I already ordered some.
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 12, 2022 | 08:57 AM
  #9  
Golferdad's Avatar
Golferdad
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Supporting Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 988
Likes: 183
From: South Carolina
Default

You didn’t have any problem around the dip stick,or did you pull the dip stick back some to clear.my dipstick is up against my valve covers.
Reply
Old May 14, 2022 | 10:12 AM
  #10  
stingr69's Avatar
stingr69
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,502
From: Little Rock AR
Default





I do like the factory wire routing but it did not work with the headers. Underneath is fine. The boomerangs are radio interference shields for AM radio so they are not a requirement for me. Get under there and see what you can do. No way was the 2 and 4 wires inside the motor mount going to work here so it was a no brainer to leave them out.

Last edited by stingr69; May 14, 2022 at 10:26 AM.
Reply
Old May 14, 2022 | 10:22 AM
  #11  
Bikespace's Avatar
Bikespace
Race Director
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 11,949
Likes: 4,507
From: Virginia
Default

Originally Posted by Golferdad
You didn’t have any problem around the dip stick,or did you pull the dip stick back some to clear.my dipstick is up against my valve covers.
I don't recall bending the tube.

Here's a before picture on the day after I bought her. Does your tube hug the block?




Reply
Old May 15, 2022 | 10:38 AM
  #12  
Street Rat's Avatar
Street Rat
Le Mans Master
Supporting Lifetime
15 Year Member
Conversation Starter
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
Default

I tried routing mine under the headers on my car. There is just not enough clearance to keep from burning a wire. If you go that way you better use the big heat sleeves that fit over the spark plug boot..
Ask me how I know.

Craig


Reply
Old May 16, 2022 | 07:07 PM
  #13  
NewbVetteGuy's Avatar
NewbVetteGuy
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,979
Likes: 332
From: Woodinville WA
Default

Originally Posted by augiedoggy
. I also use the fiberglass heat boots.heres a bad pic I have to show what I mean.
I love the little fiberglass heat boots. I bought two sets and I forced them over the coolant sensor in each head and one over my knock sensor, too. I bought a long DEI heat wrap for my fuel line just to be extra careful with it and then used some of the extra on the knock sensor wire that gets too close for comfort to my headers, too.

I hate chasing electrical gremlins! Everything gets a redundant ground and every wire near major heat sources gets heat shielding, too.

I never want to T-shoot an electrical issue. My only electrical regret is not removing every fusible link and replacing it with a breaker.


Adam
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Spark plug wires





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:42 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE