Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

prg machine · 02-05-2008, 05:46 AM

I was told once that there are 2 spark plug wires on the small block that need to cross over each other a certain way as not to miss fire??

Is there any fact to this??
Any of you ever heard this one?

**WorkinLonghorn** · 02-05-2008, 06:05 AM

Well yeah,the "certain way" is not touching and it's why there are looms for the wires to keep them separate. I don't know if there are any two in particular which would be more susceptible to this though.Maybe that part is urban legend stuff.

1fun71 · 02-05-2008, 06:12 AM

I have heard that also but on fords not chevys?? who knows....

Longhorn Man · 02-05-2008, 06:15 AM

total BS

68caliRat · 02-05-2008, 06:18 AM

I don't now about this old wives tale, but the best way for any wire to run across another is perpendicular. This reduces induction to almost nothing. However, I would think most of the wiring in our trucks don't carry enough juice to cause a problem. The plug wires are high voltage but are shielded so running them parallel shouldn't be a problem..

haysonj · 02-05-2008, 06:44 AM

5 & 7 because they fire so close together can crossfire if the wires run next to each other. Probably due more to old wires than anything.

Arad68 · 02-05-2008, 07:31 AM

Thats probably with a set of very old wires. Even cheap ones in good shape will perform well with no misfires if they are routed close to each other.

Eichorst69 · 02-05-2008, 07:50 AM

I agree with Longhorn Man !!!

Rob

ChevLoRay · 02-05-2008, 09:30 AM

I remember HOT ROD magazine had something in an article about this, and it may have been written when the topic was about mis-firing due to the proximity of wires to each other. With the firing order of a V-8 being 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, I can see where the issue might involve numbers 5 and 7, but I think it would be more about keeping them apart to prevent cross-fire due to cheap, bad plug wires. With silicone wires nowadays, we have much better wires than we used to have available.

prg machine · 03-26-2008, 03:39 AM

I remembered one day coming home from work and my goofball former wife had this "friend" who was a "realy good mechanic" ( so he said) do a tune up on a truck we had with a 327.( she thought he needed the extra money)
I was a little surprised and thought ...........well I guess that is okay............although I was the only one who ever had touched the truck in the last 20 years for anything mechanical. Anyway if it worked out I was fine with it, so I decided to test drive it............long story short it never had ran so crappy in rthe whole time I ever owned it! It didn't feel right . ran very sluggish almost backfiring but not quite. I got home and looked it over and all looked fine so I got the Motors manual out and checked the firing order..................it was no where near right................ I put it back in order and it ran perfect!

I told my wife and she said she would call the guy and I could talk to him.........................his explanation...............now get this:

" Well, I never worked on a Chevy before.............just Fords."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He had the number 1 on the passengers side front ........................I never checked to see if that was right or not...... for a Ford........didn't care!!!!!

Hey guys............pre nup rule number 1: wives have no involvement whatsoever in the maintenance of your truck!!!!!!! Unless they can wrench of course!!!

ed2552 · 03-26-2008, 03:44 AM

The only thing my dad lets my mom do is make the oil change appointments. And then i tell her EXACTLY what needs to be done.

**special-K** · 03-26-2008, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by prg machine

I was told once that there are 2 spark plug wires on the small block that need to cross over each other a certain way as not to miss fire??

Is there any fact to this??
Any of you ever heard this one?

You haven`t been listening to that spesial ambulance motor guy again,now have you???
If it makes a difference,I wish someone would have told me back in`73 when I bought my first Chevy.I never knew they weren`t running right all that time

.Imagine the gas money I could have saved in 35 years.

71big block · 03-26-2008, 04:33 AM

I was alway told that on a ford the last 2 cylinders on the passanger side were prone to cross firing if the plug wires ran parallel to each other. I recall a dude from AC Delco demonstrating this by running a 1 cyl lawn mower engine with the wire coming off the coil laying alongside a wire coming from the plug (no plysical electrical connection) the engine ran just fine. ????

02-05-2008, 05:46 AM	#1
prg machine Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 1,069	Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend I was told once that there are 2 spark plug wires on the small block that need to cross over each other a certain way as not to miss fire?? Is there any fact to this?? Any of you ever heard this one? __________________ 69 K-20 cloned to a 67 with front clip and some other stuff. 383 .040 over Crane roller cam lifters and rockers ,1.6 intake ratio, Open chamber heads, 9.5-1 compression ratio, 2.02 intake valves , Edelbrock performer Air Gap manifold Carter AFB performer 750cfm, MSD ignition, SM465 NP205 4.10 gears:

02-05-2008, 06:05 AM	#2
WorkinLonghorn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Studio City, Calif. Posts: 2,883	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend Well yeah,the "certain way" is not touching and it's why there are looms for the wires to keep them separate. I don't know if there are any two in particular which would be more susceptible to this though.Maybe that part is urban legend stuff. __________________ '69 GMC C2500 Custom Camper, 8 1/2' bed, New GM 350, NP 435 Close Ratio 4spd. Trans., 3.73 Dana-60 open.Camper and Trailer wiring, PS, PB, AC, tach , three gas tanks, stereo speakers, 2nd owner, Work-Truck supreme.

02-05-2008, 06:12 AM	#3
1fun71 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Kansas Posts: 119	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend I have heard that also but on fords not chevys?? who knows....

02-05-2008, 06:15 AM	#4
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend total BS

02-05-2008, 06:18 AM	#5
68caliRat Need a bigger hammer.. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Escondido,CA. Posts: 280	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend I don't now about this old wives tale, but the best way for any wire to run across another is perpendicular. This reduces induction to almost nothing. However, I would think most of the wiring in our trucks don't carry enough juice to cause a problem. The plug wires are high voltage but are shielded so running them parallel shouldn't be a problem.. __________________ 1968 GMC 3/4 LWB fleetside Custom Camper 2018 Silverado High Country 2500HD Duramax 4X4

02-05-2008, 06:44 AM	#6
haysonj Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Santa Maria, Ca. Posts: 1,423	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend 5 & 7 because they fire so close together can crossfire if the wires run next to each other. Probably due more to old wires than anything. __________________ 69 Chevy 4x4 383 Power

02-05-2008, 07:31 AM	#7
Arad68 Trucks N Tranzams Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: North Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 816	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend Thats probably with a set of very old wires. Even cheap ones in good shape will perform well with no misfires if they are routed close to each other. __________________ Don '68 Chevy LB 383 TH400/GV/373 posi '56 Chevy 4WD SWB '64 Chevy short stepside '79 Trans Am 455/TH2004R/12blt/4whldisc 95 Kia (Wifes car) 2002 S-10 extended cab pickup "God punishes small sins immediately"

02-05-2008, 07:50 AM	#8
Eichorst69 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 158	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend I agree with Longhorn Man !!! Rob

02-05-2008, 09:30 AM	#9
ChevLoRay Old Skool Club Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Benton, AR "The Heart of Arkansas" Posts: 10,880	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend I remember HOT ROD magazine had something in an article about this, and it may have been written when the topic was about mis-firing due to the proximity of wires to each other. With the firing order of a V-8 being 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2, I can see where the issue might involve numbers 5 and 7, but I think it would be more about keeping them apart to prevent cross-fire due to cheap, bad plug wires. With silicone wires nowadays, we have much better wires than we used to have available. __________________ Member Nr. 2770 '96 GMC Sportside; 4.3/SLT - Daily driven....constantly needs washed. '69 C-10 SWB; 350/TH400 - in limbo The older I get, the better I was.

03-26-2008, 03:39 AM	#10
prg machine Registered User Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 1,069	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend I remembered one day coming home from work and my goofball former wife had this "friend" who was a "realy good mechanic" ( so he said) do a tune up on a truck we had with a 327.( she thought he needed the extra money) I was a little surprised and thought ...........well I guess that is okay............although I was the only one who ever had touched the truck in the last 20 years for anything mechanical. Anyway if it worked out I was fine with it, so I decided to test drive it............long story short it never had ran so crappy in rthe whole time I ever owned it! It didn't feel right . ran very sluggish almost backfiring but not quite. I got home and looked it over and all looked fine so I got the Motors manual out and checked the firing order..................it was no where near right................ I put it back in order and it ran perfect! I told my wife and she said she would call the guy and I could talk to him.........................his explanation...............now get this: " Well, I never worked on a Chevy before.............just Fords."!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He had the number 1 on the passengers side front ........................I never checked to see if that was right or not...... for a Ford........didn't care!!!!! Hey guys............pre nup rule number 1: wives have no involvement whatsoever in the maintenance of your truck!!!!!!! Unless they can wrench of course!!! __________________ 69 K-20 cloned to a 67 with front clip and some other stuff. 383 .040 over Crane roller cam lifters and rockers ,1.6 intake ratio, Open chamber heads, 9.5-1 compression ratio, 2.02 intake valves , Edelbrock performer Air Gap manifold Carter AFB performer 750cfm, MSD ignition, SM465 NP205 4.10 gears:

03-26-2008, 03:44 AM	#11
ed2552 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Charles City IA Posts: 1,626	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend The only thing my dad lets my mom do is make the oil change appointments. And then i tell her EXACTLY what needs to be done. __________________ '67 C20, Under the Knife!, LWB, Eaton HO-52, Rear Coil Springs 72' GMC C2500, 350, TH400(?), Dana 60 '67 K10 4-spd., 305, SM465, Dana 44, 12 Bolt, RUST! '65 C60 292, 4 spd, 2 spd Rearend, 15' Grain Box, MINT! 09 Yukon Denali 82k Miles 6.2L/6A

03-26-2008, 04:33 AM	#13
71big block 1971 GMC 3/4 ton, 572 CID Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 293	Re: Disributor wires Old wives tale/urban legend I was alway told that on a ford the last 2 cylinders on the passanger side were prone to cross firing if the plug wires ran parallel to each other. I recall a dude from AC Delco demonstrating this by running a 1 cyl lawn mower engine with the wire coming off the coil laying alongside a wire coming from the plug (no plysical electrical connection) the engine ran just fine. ???? __________________ 71 GMC 3/4 572 CID, 1988 GMC 1/2 2006 Saturn Vue "We always have parts left over on a job this size"



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