C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

L98/TPI plug wire routing.

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Old Sep 18, 2016 | 11:05 PM
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Default L98/TPI plug wire routing.

Any one have a pictorial of the plug wire routing for a '89-'91 L98/TPI? Looking at a very low mileage car but the plug wire are routed above the exh manifolds along the base of the vlv cover. I dont think that can be stock and wonder why they moved them on a low mileage car when they should be good for at least a 100K mi..

Sorry for late weekend request but maybe some of you experts are still awake.
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Old Sep 19, 2016 | 12:15 AM
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Who says they are good to 100K? Not as a stock system but maybe if you shielded it.

Another reason is that someone might have thought that bigger is better so they got the fattest wire they could.
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Old Sep 19, 2016 | 11:37 AM
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Originally Posted by cardo0
Any one have a pictorial of the plug wire routing for a '89-'91 L98/TPI? Looking at a very low mileage car but the plug wire are routed above the exh manifolds along the base of the vlv cover. I dont think that can be stock and wonder why they moved them on a low mileage car when they should be good for at least a 100K mi..

Sorry for late weekend request but maybe some of you experts are still awake.
why don't you think it can be stock? on aluminum head 86-91's (84-E86 iron head -- similar), original plug wires are routed on brackets attached to the heads just under the valve cover flange, and route just above the VC flange and back to the rear of the valve cover. they will be routed under the RH/LH injectors wiring harness, and up to the distributor. plug wires 1, 2, and 3 route behind the distributor. here's several pics of a NOS L98 (circa 1990) - note wire routing. with some minor variations, all L98 cars route the same --






pic #3 is from an original, 235 mile, 1990 car.





(pretty sure this is a challenge series L98 - not sure what year)

Last edited by Joe C; Sep 19, 2016 at 12:11 PM.
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Old Sep 19, 2016 | 12:03 PM
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Perfect Joe, that's just what I was looking for! Yea the wires are blue and ad says has modified exh so I think it's been tinkered with. But very low miles has me wondering what the owner was up to. I kinda think that should take from value of low mileage car - very low miles. Man would I like to do a compression test.

Thx again.
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Old Sep 19, 2016 | 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by cardo0
Perfect Joe, that's just what I was looking for! Yea the wires are blue and ad says has modified exh so I think it's been tinkered with. But very low miles has me wondering what the owner was up to. I kinda think that should take from value of low mileage car - very low miles. Man would I like to do a compression test.

Thx again.
Always run a compression test and use your scanner to see what the ECM sees otherwise they can just pull the bulb and try to hide things
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Old Sep 19, 2016 | 01:31 PM
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Originally Posted by cardo0
Perfect Joe, that's just what I was looking for! Yea the wires are blue and ad says has modified exh so I think it's been tinkered with. But very low miles has me wondering what the owner was up to. I kinda think that should take from value of low mileage car - very low miles. Man would I like to do a compression test.

Thx again.
- a little FYI - original delco plug wires will be gray and stamped or ID'd with the corresponding cylinder number. delco replacement sets do not have the cylinder number markings.


Last edited by Joe C; Sep 19, 2016 at 03:19 PM.
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Old Sep 19, 2016 | 11:11 PM
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OK, thx for the tip. I need a closer look at the plug wires.
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Old Sep 19, 2016 | 11:14 PM
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Originally Posted by aklim
Always run a compression test and use your scanner to see what the ECM sees otherwise they can just pull the bulb and try to hide things
Awesome idea. I expect my Auto Xray to plug right in. It has the OBD I ALDL connector.

Thx.
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Old Sep 19, 2016 | 11:27 PM
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Originally Posted by cardo0
Awesome idea. I expect my Auto Xray to plug right in. It has the OBD I ALDL connector.

Thx.
Another thing to do is to bring it for a Pre Delivery Inspection by a mechanic he doesn't know.
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Old Sep 20, 2016 | 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe C
plug wires 1, 2, and 3 route behind the distributor.
The wire for #1 does not go behind the distributor, if you've installed the distributor correctly. The tower for the #1 wire should be aligned toward the #1 cylinder.

If the dist. is correct, the plug wires for 1, 5, & 7 (odd numbers) will be on the LH side of the dist, and the plug wires for 4, 6, & 8 (even numbers) will be on the RH side of the dist. Only 2 & 3 need to cross over!

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Old Sep 20, 2016 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Hot Rod Roy
The wire for #1 does not go behind the distributor, if you've installed the distributor correctly. The tower for the #1 wire should be aligned toward the #1 cylinder.

If the dist. is correct, the plug wires for 1, 5, & 7 (odd numbers) will be on the LH side of the dist, and the plug wires for 4, 6, & 8 (even numbers) will be on the RH side of the dist. Only 2 & 3 need to cross over!

sorry - have to disagree with you on this one. I've had three original L98 cars, and all three had the #1 plug wire route up and behind the distributor. all cars had the distributor installed correctly. I know it doesn't make sense, and not sure why the general did it that way, but that's the way it is. note the pic - follow the #1 wire. also note that only #5 and #7 come in directly from the left bank. #2 clearly comes in from the rear, as well as #3.



if you look at any replacement set, ac delco or any other manufacture's replacement set, you'll see the #1 wire is always the longest wire in the set and usually around 44 inches long. I have personally installed 5 replacement sets on L98's (2 delco, and 3 taylor sets), and they have all been this way.

here's an old thread that addressed plug wire lengths for L98 cars -
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-lengths.html

Last edited by Joe C; Sep 20, 2016 at 07:51 PM.
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Old Sep 21, 2016 | 12:24 AM
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Originally Posted by Joe C
Sorry - have to disagree with you on this one. I've had three original L98 cars, and all three had the #1 plug wire route up and behind the distributor. All cars had the distributor installed correctly. I know it doesn't make sense, and not sure why the General did it that way, but that's the way it is.
It sure is hard to argue against facts! You are right, and I am wrong. It is apparent from your picture that the #1 wire must go the long way around the distributor because of the shape of the TPI manifold. This is not a wasted day . . I learned something new. Thank you.

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Old Mar 15, 2025 | 12:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Joe C







pic #3 is from an original, 235 mile, 1990 car.





(pretty sure this is a challenge series L98 - not sure what year)
Necro bump...since these are darned fine photos...stumbled over the thread looking for exactly how many of whichever oem reproduction plug wire looms I need to acquire...which is all of em. At least I know what they look like now.
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Old Mar 16, 2025 | 03:12 PM
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Originally Posted by cardo0
Any one have a pictorial of the plug wire routing for a '89-'91 L98/TPI? Looking at a very low mileage car but the plug wire are routed above the exh manifolds along the base of the vlv cover. I dont think that can be stock and wonder why they moved them on a low mileage car when they should be good for at least a 100K mi..

Sorry for late weekend request but maybe some of you experts are still awake.
That is where mine were on my 89. The original heads had some purpose-built wire holders and a bracket/shield to protect from the heat of the EGR pipe.



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