Spark Plug Wires
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2021
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From: West Virginia
Spark Plug Wires
Hello everyone. I have a 1969 with the 350 engine. I would like to replace the plug wires and keep them stock. I checked with Topflight and they have a set for early and late Corvettes. The build code on mine is F27 which one site equated to Jan. 69 which I am assuming makes it an early build. I've seen quite a few threads on this topic so any input is appreciated.
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Hello everyone. I have a 1969 with the 350 engine. I would like to replace the plug wires and keep them stock. I checked with Topflight and they have a set for early and late Corvettes. The build code on mine is F27 which one site equated to Jan. 69 which I am assuming makes it an early build. I've seen quite a few threads on this topic so any input is appreciated.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 153
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From: West Virginia
Race Director
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Those are Lectric Limited sets. Here is the dated 1st Quarter 69 set
https://www.lectriclimited.com/catal.../category/747/
https://www.lectriclimited.com/catal.../category/747/
Race Director
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Well due to the GM strike 1969 productuon ran into December of 1969 so January 1969 is relatively early. Thing is changes may have occurred during the model year so if you see early or late for a particular part you will have to find the change point.
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1967 Pedal Car Champion
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From: US-PNW
What does "early" mean in Dobbins' definition? Is it merely a percentage threshold of total production? (14,453 is 37% of 38,762) Or, is there another cut point for his figure? The half-way point could be 50% of production or 50% of the production date range. It's all ill-defined and nothing that really means much unless you are parts searching. As MelWff commented, early/late usually has to do with a specific change during the production year and is a moving figure depending on what change is being examined. For example, take a January-built car: it would be a "late" car for a change that occurred on December 31st and an "early" car for a change that happened Feb. 1st.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2021
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From: West Virginia
I originally posted the question because I was looking for replacement spark plug wires. I wanted to keep them close to stock and found them in “early” and “late” versions. Not certain what is the difference. Maybe something to do with the radio interference and better shielding?
1967 Pedal Car Champion
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From: US-PNW
If you have an assembly manual for '69, you may find notation of a spark plug wire design change date. With your car's build date you can determine on which side of the wire change your car falls. That only has to do with design or installation changes and not inventory turnover.
With Lectric Limited, I see two dates offered on small block wires: 3Q68 and 1Q69. A January '69 car would probably have the 3Q68 wire date since it's the very beginning of the 1Q period for '69 and not enough time to put them onto the assembly line. Additionally, I'm positive GM would have used whatever wires were on the shelves so that 3Q and 1Q wire sets could have been used on cars right next to each other on the line.
With Lectric Limited, I see two dates offered on small block wires: 3Q68 and 1Q69. A January '69 car would probably have the 3Q68 wire date since it's the very beginning of the 1Q period for '69 and not enough time to put them onto the assembly line. Additionally, I'm positive GM would have used whatever wires were on the shelves so that 3Q and 1Q wire sets could have been used on cars right next to each other on the line.