Plug wires HELP!
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu HI
Plug wires HELP!
I always thought changing plug wires was a 20 minute job. Those were the old days! I decided today to put on my new Taylor wires from Chris at Speed Demon. Well one hour later I am still trying to figure out how to get the first plug wire off. It goes under, behind and around the distributor. How do you get the old one out of there? It is fastened some where that I can't even see. If I was to get the old one out how would I ever get the new one back in the same location? Do most of you route the new wires in an easier location? Any help is much appreciated.
Aloha,
Larry
Aloha,
Larry
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Camp Lester Okinawa Japan
Re: Plug wires HELP! (Larry Mackey)
If you haven't done so already the first thing that you need to do is take the extension off the back end of the plenum by removeing the three torx bolts on top. Then you can see how things go, it is pretty easy from there.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 765
Likes: 11
Cruise-In I Veteran
Re: Plug wires HELP! (Larry Mackey)
I think you are talking about the actual routing of the wires around the back of the cyl heads, right?
I'm sorry to say that there is no easy way to do this. If the wires have been changed correctly, they will be held in place around the lower lip of the heads by some retainer clips that need to be released. There will be some conduit around some of the wires, where it goes around the back of the cylinder head, and they are held in place by a few metal shrouding peices. I never liked this design, I think it causes premature chafing and arching of the wires, so I got some wire looms that go over the valve covers. I liked how they looked until I broke one during the engine rebuild (don't ask how...)
Take your time and good luck.
I'm sorry to say that there is no easy way to do this. If the wires have been changed correctly, they will be held in place around the lower lip of the heads by some retainer clips that need to be released. There will be some conduit around some of the wires, where it goes around the back of the cylinder head, and they are held in place by a few metal shrouding peices. I never liked this design, I think it causes premature chafing and arching of the wires, so I got some wire looms that go over the valve covers. I liked how they looked until I broke one during the engine rebuild (don't ask how...)
Take your time and good luck.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,870
Likes: 25
From: Long Island, NY
Re: Plug wires HELP! (Larry Mackey)
First remove the Plenum extension cover. Now you will be able to see all the wires on the cap. Pull & replace 1 wire at a time. Wait till you try to remove the wires on the plugs on the passenger side, those are a little difficult.
Are you changing plugs also ?
Vic
Are you changing plugs also ?
Vic
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu HI
Re: Plug wires HELP! (Larry Mackey)
Thanks everyone for the help. However I have removed the top cover piece. I can't take off the cap with the wires attached because the wires prevent me from lifitng it. Some of the wires are fastened some way behind and under the distributor. I can pull the one plug wire from both directions and feel it but it won't move and I can't see what is holding it. There is no way a new wire will fit in the same place without attaching one of the ends after the wire is inserted through the hole. The wiring is factory original. I am thinking of just cutting off the old wire and routing the new one in a different area. Any more ideas?? Thanks again.
Aloha,
Larry
Aloha,
Larry
Pro
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 634
Likes: 0
From: milford,Ma. USA
Re: Plug wires HELP! (Larry Mackey)
cut the old wires one at a time and replace them. I'm sure you can figure out a "nice" route for the wires. :jester that's what I did. It takes a while so be patient :crazy:
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Re: Plug wires HELP! (Larry Mackey)
Larry,
There is a bunch of stuff behind the distributor. Get some masking tape and mark them, and use a felt tip to mark the distributor. Take all the wires off the cap and then remove the cap and rotor. You should now have better access to the wires. I did a little modification on mine and didn't install all the factory clips. I instead used some of the split plastic corrogated tube on the driver's side and routed them in the same location but didn't clip them.
There is a bunch of stuff behind the distributor. Get some masking tape and mark them, and use a felt tip to mark the distributor. Take all the wires off the cap and then remove the cap and rotor. You should now have better access to the wires. I did a little modification on mine and didn't install all the factory clips. I instead used some of the split plastic corrogated tube on the driver's side and routed them in the same location but didn't clip them.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 90,675
Likes: 304
From: SE NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Plug wires HELP! (Larry Mackey)
I believe there is a wire loom at the rear of the valve cover and it may have a snap cover.
I cheated by doing the wires at the same time I put in the HyperTech coil/cap/rotor and used the stock routing and wire looms.:cool:
If you opt for this method, put some Liquid Wrench on the bottoms of the four dist bolts before you try to remove them. It will prevent you from snapping off those little guys inside the dist base. Then use some anti-seize when installing them back.
BTW, you haven't gotten to the fun part yet. Check out the routing under the EGR tube!:cry
I cheated by doing the wires at the same time I put in the HyperTech coil/cap/rotor and used the stock routing and wire looms.:cool:
If you opt for this method, put some Liquid Wrench on the bottoms of the four dist bolts before you try to remove them. It will prevent you from snapping off those little guys inside the dist base. Then use some anti-seize when installing them back.
BTW, you haven't gotten to the fun part yet. Check out the routing under the EGR tube!:cry
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 4,679
Likes: 2
From: Honolulu HI
Re: Plug wires HELP! (Larry Mackey)
Okay guys, thanks for all the help. I found the clip on the back under side of the distributor holding three wires together. It was holding wires going both directions so I couldn't pull them out. I finally got at it with needle nose pliers and unhooked it. After that it was no big deal. Thanks again for the help.
Aloha,
Larry
Aloha,
Larry
