HEI Plug Wires

[rsavage]

Anyone know what year/model HEI plug wires are long enough to be installed correctly underneath the rams horn manifolds on my '70?

[67vetteal]

Early 70's Corvette small block should do it as they ran under the block and up to the Plugs. Big Blocks were on top. Al W.

[custom70]

I read somewhere in another thread the 78 corvette worked good.

[chas350]

I have been using the universal cut to lenght kits. I like being able to route/fit my wires and then cut them exactly where I want them. They are cheaper to.
Just make sure you get the correct distributor boot/connection for your application ie: male/female etc. Also chose the correct spark plug boot ie: strait/45 angle or 90 degree angle.

[OhioDan]

I got mine from NAPA. They're for a 74-75 corvette, with HEI ingnition. Can't remember the part number. Hope this helps?

[BLACK AND BLUE 67-72]

1978 chevy pickup uses the same exact wires as the 74 Vette W/HEI, they just have two options above or below exhaust manifolds. Napa Belden #700254.

[Mike C]

HEI was standard I know in '75. Optional in '74 on passenger cars. Just order wires for a 75 'vette and you will be good to go. Those are the wires I run on pretty much anything small block with headers or rams horns.

[cparman]

I use a set of Taylor spark plug wire that need to be terminated at the distributor cap end. I do agree that the 78-80 Corvette wires will work, but they are a bit long. The Taylor set can be cut to fit, not really that hard to do, make it easier to run under the motor mounts, if the truck is finished.

Here is a picture or two

[tnblazerk5]

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=191592

please take the time to look in the faq section lots of info in there

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/f...splay.php?f=28

[rsavage]

Thanks for the responses 67Vetteal, Custom 70, Chas 350, OhioDan, Black and Blue 67-72, Mike C and cparman. I appreciate it.

[lax54650]

cparman
that looks SWEEET

[LostMy65]

I've been searching...
This is the most recent thread I could find.

I find many auto parts stores don't know if HEI need specific wires for HEI.

I know people here keep saying to just use 75-77 corvette,
but are all the newer wire sets HEI?

The reason I ask is because even the boxes these plugs are in don't say anything like HEI or High Energy.

[Tx Firefighter]

All of the 70s Vette wires the guys above have mentioned are for HEI. GM did away with points and went to electronic ignition on them. Don't muddy the waters with worrying about what the box or parts guys say, they are for HEI. 75 Vette wires will be the ones you want. I run em on all my ramshorns equipped engines.

[LostMy65]

^Thanks,

I read here, and then expect the parts guys might have even a slight clue.
but over and over, repeatedly; these parts store guys are practically clueless.

Thanks again and again for this forum.

[Hubscrub]

i believe i will try the cut to fit next time myself i like stuff to be nice an clean

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by Hubscrub

i believe i will try the cut to fit next time myself i like stuff to be nice an clean

Yes,

I have rams horns, so I'm liking the pics here:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=295089

[Boog]

I like the neatness of the wires routed in the stock location. Kinda hidden. Especially if custom valve covers are used. It is also a good idea to install those heat shields too. Most of us toss them during a rebuild but they are there for a reason.

[tekno62]

Im bringing this back to the top - the reason is I just got some new wires (early 70"s Vett) and they didnt fit very well - one was about 2 " to short and 2 where way to long. I also tried a 79 GMC 350 - I dont think these where meant for the ram type headers ether

If anyone has newer info on what would fit well for a 350 with the ram type headers please let me know

[FLcustom10]

I was happy with the cut-to-fit. If I can do it anyone can.
Below is the post from when I did it:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=481155

[rsavage]

NAPA mileage plus ignition wires part number 2937 for 1976 Corvette will work.

[ETsC10]

I think half the tidy-trick is to use all the right routing brackets...
both on the lower oil pan and the correct looms.

Even on an engine stand, routing takes time
and don't forget you need a little bit of room
to turn your dizzy a tad (timing).

The routing in the pics nearly complete but was
followed by taking up the slack above the dist cap.

Now that I look back, my wires were a little long.

BTW-mine were NAPA wires for a '75 Corvette.
Five years and no degradation at all.


.

[OhioDan]

Here's how I installed mine. Got the plug wire stands from GMCPaul.
The only diffenece is mine are HEI.

[Mike C]

In '74 the HEI was standard on the L82 Corvette an optional on other GM cars. In '75, the HEI became standard on all V8's. Only the Corvette still used Rams Horns manifolds at this stage with routing underneath manifolds. With minor changes, the wires for any '75-'82 Corvette should be fine.

Length of the wires, or at least how they route, can be varied by which post on the HEI you choose for #1. If one wire is slightly to short and others are slightly too long, the #1 point you have chosen is probably slightly different than the one where GM started.

I bought Made For You looms that were designed for the valve covers and bolted them to the oil pan rail to hold/route my wires underneath. Difficult to get some of the aftermarket large boots up through the middle of the motor mount where the original one ran some times.

I did the cut-to-fit wires the first few times I did wires 25+ years ago, but now I choose the pre-made for most projects. Saves time, and even with a good set of crimpers, the factory job is better than mine. There are some exceptions with my Jeeps and my Z-car where the factory sets didn't meet my needs.

Because of firewall clearance on my Jimmy I ran a Ready-to-Run MSD distributor that uses a points style cap so I just bought the Taylor pre-made '72 Chevy truck wire. But you can use '71-'73 'Vette wires as well. Stay away from ordering '74 wires because once again, now all of them had HEI.

[oldgold70c10]

The Corvette wires do work, but some will be a bit too short if you're using the factory 67-70 wire loom brackets, because they route the wires high up away from the engine to clear the accelerator rod. I bet they fit stock 71-72 factory plug wire brackets better because of the switch to an accelerator cable, and the Corvette with ramshorns probably has the same brackets.

[tekno62]

thanks guys - Im hoping I just had a bad set - Napa is closed for the week and Pepboys don't dont have them in stock. So Im stuck with Oreilly. We'll see how they fit.