Spark plug lead routing 351W

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Spark plug lead routing 351W

Gsmblue
I have a nice new set of Ford 9mm leads I want to put on the Bronco. I have never tried to get the leads looking good or route them well. With the leads being different lengths, is there a recommended way to put them in so the group up nicely? Currently my leads look like a mess of spaghetti..

Any advice or better yet pictures would be appreciated!
1985.5 F-150 XL Explorer standard cab 5.0 EFI AOD 4x4
Daily Driver. We call her Eunice the Ute.

1982 Bronco XLT Lariat 351W AOD 4x4
Code name Esperanza, or Espy to her friends. Please see my Project thread for the blow by blow.

1984 F-350 XL Centurion crew cab 460 T19 4x4
"Eylza Dual-little"
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
I always took them off one by one and matched the lengths from the set.
But if your wires are already a rat's nest that may not work.

Do you have a set of wire dividers?



 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

Rembrant
In reply to this post by Gsmblue
Gsmblue wrote
...is there a recommended way to put them in so the group up nicely?

Any advice or better yet pictures would be appreciated!
I have a newer set of Ford 8mm wires, and I basically routed them in the stock location(s). This may not be possible for you, but I'm currently still running stock valve covers and I have the valve cover bolts with the little posts on them for the plug wire retainers. If you still have these valve cover bolts but the clips are all broken (like mine were), Dorman makes a decent replacement clip for only a couple bucks each. Below is the best picture I have access to at the moment, but you can see how the wires are routed in front of the valve covers.



There is another style of factory valve covers that have little tabs on top of the covers for plug wire retainer clips...I'm sure sure what engines had them though.
1994 F150 4x2 Flareside. 5.0 w/MAF, 4R70W, stock.
1984 F150 4X2 Flareside. Mild 302 w/ 5spd. Sold.
1980 F150 4X4 Flareside. 300i6 w/ 5spd. Sold in 2021.
1980 F100 4X2 Flareside. 351w/2bbl w/NP435. Sold in 1995

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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

Steve83
Banned User
In reply to this post by Gsmblue
Gsmblue wrote
With the leads being different lengths, is there a recommended way to put them in so the group up nicely? Currently my leads look like a mess of spaghetti.
Any advice or better yet pictures would be appreciated!
Follow Ford's recommendation precisely:


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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
In reply to this post by Gsmblue
Pic's would help.
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

85lebaront2
Administrator
I know Ford was very specific regarding the left (5 - 8) wire routing, the Windsor engines before the firing order change routed them through the one 4 lead separator and valve cover clip in the 7568 order, FE and 385 series were 5768 to keep 7 and 8 from being adjacent. FWIW, GM engines did the same on that side with 5 and 7 having a wider gap between them in the separators. Chrysler's solution resulted in a 7 foot long plug wire for #7, partially due to the exhaust manifold design and plug location. Even my old 312 had the #7 and #8 diagonally across in the square 4 wire rubber holders.
Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
9mm is supposed to help with crossfire (induction)

I still have my 460's #7&8 wires seperated.
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

Ken Blythen
This post was updated on .
In reply to this post by Steve83
'Follow Ford's recommendation precisely' is good advice.



My truck had a history of pinging issues from when I first bought it in 2008, & there were multiple causes......plus a previously disabled EGR, which I didn't reinstate.

1. A badly recurved distributor without a vacuum advance canister.....

This was the single biggest culprit, & was a learning curve.
Once I learnt enough to map the advance, correct the mechanical advance springs, & install an advance canister, I was able to go from 4 ATDC base timing (from the PO) to 8 BTDC, gained power, gained 16% on mpg, & reduced the pinging by probably 90%.

2. Plug wire routing (as per factory diagram).....

Second to the recurve, this was the biggest other correction, allowing me to bump up the base timing slightly further, & bring up the vacuum advance (for cruise & mid-throttle) several turns without pinging.
It also eliminated a vague miss that you could feel, but not hear at low RPM.....almost so vague you weren't sure if it was real......until it suddenly disappeared!

3. Incorrect plug heat range.....

This was a lesser, but still noticeable, factor that corrected with the proper plug (one heat range cooler).


4. Leaking valve stem seals.....

About the same benefit as the plug heat correction.



But, definitely worth following the Ford wire routing diagram to prevent cross-firing & pinging from induction.

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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

Gsmblue
Thank you for the feedback so far!

I found this diagram for routing, is this what you regard as the ford standard?



I do have some separators laying around so I will dig them out.

The complication now is which length lead goes where, I guess that is trial and error.

This is a little more complicated as I have a HEI disty at this time. I do intend on going back to the Duraspark 2, but that means buying more stuff..
1985.5 F-150 XL Explorer standard cab 5.0 EFI AOD 4x4
Daily Driver. We call her Eunice the Ute.

1982 Bronco XLT Lariat 351W AOD 4x4
Code name Esperanza, or Espy to her friends. Please see my Project thread for the blow by blow.

1984 F-350 XL Centurion crew cab 460 T19 4x4
"Eylza Dual-little"
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
This post was updated on .
I sometimes take a sharpie and write the firing order on the cap if I have
to sort through wires by trial and error to find the best fit.
Remember, the set is never going to be perfect.
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

Steve83
Banned User
ArdWrknTrk wrote
Remember, the set is never going to be perfect.
It doesn't take a whole lot of effort to MAKE them perfect...

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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
This post was updated on .
Nope. *it doesn't*

Steve,  I'm assuming Gsm is using FRPP wires since I don't think Motorcraft makes the 9mm set, and he did say "Ford".

It definitely depends on your situation and the wires being used.
I used to do that all the time with Taylor spirocore's or spools of Packard 440
.... because I have the right tools and terminations.

But if you're in the apartment building parking lot on your lunch hour you can't expect the wires to be any better than factory out of the box.

I'm not bickering.
And I'm glad you're sharing your extensive knowledge.
I know you've already documented all this stuff on your Supermotors pages.

I'm trying to get something started up in the Garage/Shop & Tools, called Tips & Techniques: where we can all share in just that.
I wanted to point it out to you, and all our other users.
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

85lebaront2
Administrator
Ford Racing Products, sold through Summit, has a 9mm set that will be going on Darth's new engine.
Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

Steve83
Banned User
In reply to this post by ArdWrknTrk
What I'm trying to point out is that: even in a parking lot, you can quickly number & cut the wires to length, take all the pieces upstairs to your coffee table, put the ends back on using dish soap & common pliers, and then put them back on the truck quickly.  That applies to any brand or size of plug wires, for any vehicle.
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
Steve83 wrote
  That applies to any brand or size of plug wires, for any vehicle.
Really?

Have you tried this with COP, or molded to the coil wires?

The VAST majority of owners don't even open the hood.
And of those that actually do, most just want to buy the right part and swap it in.
When what you get new (from the OEM!) isn't 'good enough' then there's a problem.
 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

Gary Lewis
Administrator
In reply to this post by 85lebaront2
Bill - Let me know what you think of them. Big Blue needs them as well.
Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

Gsmblue
In reply to this post by 85lebaront2
That's what I got, but for the wrong engine size... I assume the leads will be too long..

Ford Racing M-12259-C460 S/P Wires 7.0/7.5L Blu 9Mm

I will see how long they look and may return for the correct version.

No cure for stupid!
1985.5 F-150 XL Explorer standard cab 5.0 EFI AOD 4x4
Daily Driver. We call her Eunice the Ute.

1982 Bronco XLT Lariat 351W AOD 4x4
Code name Esperanza, or Espy to her friends. Please see my Project thread for the blow by blow.

1984 F-350 XL Centurion crew cab 460 T19 4x4
"Eylza Dual-little"
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

ArdWrknTrk
Administrator
Mistaken is not stupid.  

Steve's trim to size technique will serve you well.

Start at the plugs and use wire dividers to work your way back to the dizzy.

Much easier to see and fit when the ends are front and center!

 Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

Gsmblue
Sounds like a 2 beer job to me... I will give it a shot tonight.

I really like the idea of trimming them to length.
1985.5 F-150 XL Explorer standard cab 5.0 EFI AOD 4x4
Daily Driver. We call her Eunice the Ute.

1982 Bronco XLT Lariat 351W AOD 4x4
Code name Esperanza, or Espy to her friends. Please see my Project thread for the blow by blow.

1984 F-350 XL Centurion crew cab 460 T19 4x4
"Eylza Dual-little"
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Re: Spark plug lead routing 351W

1986F150Six
Administrator
Drink the beers after you finish... the job might look better!
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