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Topic: tune up, wires, OMG

in Forum: C3 Engines


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tune up, wires, OMG (1/9)
 8/17/16 8:16pm
LakeSkiGoose
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Grosse Pointe Woods, MI - USA

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1978 Corvette Coupe Base


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so, I got into it myself and turned out to be more complicated that I expected for a 1978 small block tune up...   took it into a shop and for something that as simple as a tuneup its not

sparkplug wires run through a connection down and through a engine mount bracket.... impossible to remove/replace with out undoing an engine mount??

am I seeing something wrong? 
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Re: tune up, wires, OMG (2/9)
 8/17/16 9:24pm
Adams' AppleLifetime Member
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Duncanville, TX - USA

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#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas


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  Welcome to the Shark Tank!
You are correct...the plug wires for the front cylinders do indeed run behind the engine mount. Some folks have managed to snake new wires thru by taking the terminals off first, then sliding the wires behind the mount, and then re-attaching the terminals. Some also un-bolt the mount, and jack the engine up a bit to help.
You might also opt to just run the new wires over the tops of the valve covers, but you run the risk of burning wires on the exhaust, and creating ignition noise in the radio....which is why the wires are covered with the shielding to start with.
One other option is to pull the engine out....much easier to do the wires then. Tongue

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Re: tune up, wires, OMG (3/9)
 8/18/16 9:10am
cinorLifetime Member
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Welcome to the world of C3 repairs.  Thought I'd replace the spark plugs and ended up with nothing but the bare frame when I was done.  (Just joking  doing frame off resto on my 75)

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Re: tune up, wires, OMG (4/9)
 8/18/16 9:56am
johnu
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Scottsdale, AZ - USA

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cinor said: Welcome to the world of C3 repairs.  Thought I'd replace the spark plugs and ended up with nothing but the bare frame when I was done.  (Just joking  doing frame off resto on my 75)



That's called "project drift"!

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Re: tune up, wires, OMG (5/9)
 8/18/16 10:57am
F4GaryGold Member
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Grapevine, TX - USA

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I think we all have hyper-extended knees from leaning way over the fenders.  Ouch

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Re: tune up, wires, OMG (6/9)
 8/18/16 5:47pm
Vman73
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Gig Harbor, WA - USA

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Your are correct, running a new set of plug wires to the front two on each side is a pain in the a?? Once you get all of the shielding and grease/grime out of the way, spray some silicone on the distributor end of the new wires and "carefully" remove the round boot. With the boots removed, you should be able to run some small guage wire up through from the bottom and snake the the new wires down through. Using the same silicone spray to lube up the boots and put them back on. I usually do one wire at a time to make sure I don't get the firing order goofed up. Good luck and let us know how it works out.

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Re: tune up, wires, OMG (7/9)
 8/18/16 11:52pm
LakeSkiGoose
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Grosse Pointe Woods, MI - USA

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1978 Corvette Coupe Base


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mount removed and engine supported, wire run...  

coil I got from ecklers had wire pins installed the wrong way (not sure how to explain this), backwards...   so that was fun also....

ive done tuneups before on everything from a straight 6 on a 75 jeep to a v8 2010 BMW....  nothing has been this difficult....  this is crazy......

front end suspension kit and shocks all around are next...  prayers please...
Re: tune up, wires, OMG (8/9)
 8/19/16 8:04am
cinorLifetime Member
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, - Canada

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1975 L48 Stingray 1992 LT1


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LakeSkiGoose said: mount removed and engine supported, wire run...  

coil I got from ecklers had wire pins installed the wrong way (not sure how to explain this), backwards...   so that was fun also....

ive done tuneups before on everything from a straight 6 on a 75 jeep to a v8 2010 BMW....  nothing has been this difficult....  this is crazy......

front end suspension kit and shocks all around are next...  prayers please...


oops!  I see you falling into that big pit. You need to close your eyes when you do something like this so you don't end up in " the drift" as John so well put it.LOL



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Re: tune up, wires, OMG (9/9)
 8/21/16 9:26am
VETTERBOBLifetime Member
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The silicone will also come in handy to ease the pain of the parts and mechanic's invoice's. Just little humor. good luck.
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