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Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

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Old 01-05-2012, 10:50 AM
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Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Hey all.. just as the title says... I.have a sbc with tall perimeter bolt valve covers and I'm trying to decide between over the cover plug wires or under headers. I'm looking for a clean look as well as protection from the heat of my dyno Dons headers. Ur opinions and advice would be appreciated.
Old 01-05-2012, 12:01 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

heres over , i just added the headers it's a slow build but should be done by aug . there a little sloppy but it's a work in progress plus it was in the 20's when i put these on .lol

Old 01-05-2012, 12:20 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

back when I had my 87 formula I went under the headers. You will need sip ties and wire looms. But keep in mined so wires are shorter then others. The last pair of wires I bought I was forced to go over the headers.
Old 01-05-2012, 12:22 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Under the headers with MSD heat sleeves on anything close the wires... much cleaner in my opinion.
Old 01-05-2012, 12:22 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Here are mine under the headers with zipties

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Old 01-05-2012, 01:04 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

i like the ol school look with them over . i'm gonna neating mine up some later
midias yours does look nice ...
Old 01-05-2012, 01:37 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Thanks for the input so far guys. Midias, I like that tucked look u have going there. That's what I would like to see. On my last build I had cb valve covers and used the looms. Since swapping over I need to make the pass side look less cluttered. So the under the header wires might be the way to go. Keep the opinions and picks comin guys

BadnBlk.. where might I find more photos of ur car? U have a beautiful machine.
Old 01-05-2012, 04:24 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

i used the plug wire looms that sit on the side of the valve covers. they were meant to use a bracket that bolts to the top of the valve covers. i made my own brackets with aluminum stock and mounted then to the heads where original loom brackets went so the valve covers could be seen.
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Old 01-05-2012, 05:12 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Originally Posted by Copchaser
Thanks for the input so far guys.
BadnBlk.. where might I find more photos of ur car? U have a beautiful machine.
Here is some older pics underhood that you can actually see that the wires are hidden under the header.
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Old 01-05-2012, 08:08 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Originally Posted by one92rs
i used the plug wire looms that sit on the side of the valve covers. they were meant to use a bracket that bolts to the top of the valve covers. i made my own brackets with aluminum stock and mounted then to the heads where original loom brackets went so the valve covers could be seen.
Hey buddy, that looks good. I am dealing with CA smog, so my headers have the AIR tubes. Im almost positive running the wires right next to the cover will interfere with the AIR tubes.
Old 01-06-2012, 05:29 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Originally Posted by Copchaser
Hey buddy, that looks good. I am dealing with CA smog, so my headers have the AIR tubes. Im almost positive running the wires right next to the cover will interfere with the AIR tubes.
no the only problem you will have with the tubes is if the wires rub up against them and short, you may have routing issues but wires will not affect AIR operation.
Old 01-06-2012, 06:43 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

i dont think it will be that big of an issue. i spaced my holders out some since i removed the air tubes. you can run them closer to the valve cover and they will be fine.
Old 01-06-2012, 07:04 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

ck. out "made4you" plug wire looms . i got mine at jegs or summit (don't remember wich) , anyway works great on C/B valve covers . i have no problems with wire routing . i did custom make/cut all plug wires . used 90 degree boots on both ends . good luck .
Old 01-07-2012, 09:29 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Ran mine under, but had to buy two sets of stock type wires to get the right lengths but the remaining wire got used on my V6 truck.
Old 01-07-2012, 09:57 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

I have tucked my wires away and underneath and around so I have a cleaner look. One problem I continue to have is that since I have very little 'extra length' wire they are still too close to hotspots in the engine and some rub over time. I get a short and arcing which affects the way the car runs and I have to replace the wires about every year and a half. at the first sign of engine stumble I go out and get another set of 'Lifetime' warranted wires and get after changing out the wires.

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Old 01-08-2012, 10:34 AM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

These are the "Made for you" wire looms. I DO like under the headers, but I LOVE this look too. Anyhow, these are also custom cut MSD wires. Cut to fit this set up of course.
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Old 01-08-2012, 10:51 AM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

I have the same looms from the same company, but Im no longer running cb valve covers. My new build has perimeter bolt covers on it.
Old 01-08-2012, 11:38 AM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

It is a very good look. Nice looking engine bay, not cluttered and tastefully done. Any chance of a pic of the driver side and a front shot?
Old 01-08-2012, 11:55 AM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Old 01-08-2012, 12:06 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Either way can look great or look crappy. Its all in how much care you take to route them nicely.



Old 01-08-2012, 01:29 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Originally Posted by 87350IROC
Either way can look great or look crappy. Its all in how much care you take to route them nicely.
They're much easier to route with cut-to-length wires, not the universal kits. Mine are 8mm Taylor. The boots were necessary for the passenger side due to Edelbrock's crazy tube design.

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Old 01-08-2012, 02:08 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

I like what you have done here. Looks like you have kept the emissions with the headers and it still looks clean-I LIKE IT! Well done IROC 5.7!
Old 01-08-2012, 02:23 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

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Old 01-08-2012, 03:29 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Holly crap, I never thought to put the plug wires UNDER the header.... ( faceplant) how do you cut the wires to get them to be the right lenth Instead of the crappy universal ones that are way to long?
Old 01-08-2012, 04:06 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

Get "crappy universal ones" the non-assembled universal ones you cut to length... mine are non-assembled universal ones and when you do them your self you can run them anyway you want since you have so much wire...
Old 01-08-2012, 04:16 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

mine are the msd red ones? I dont know which they are but they are already assembled. and in use but their is just soo much wire there i just want it to look good
Old 01-09-2012, 08:36 AM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

This is one swaaaeeet engine bay Fueledsoul. Exceptional job. Making me want to go out and get the extra length wires and and cut it all to the length I need. Thanks for the pics!

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Old 01-15-2012, 07:52 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

I went with over the headers, but with wire loom kit to make it look better
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Old 01-15-2012, 08:55 PM
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Re: Plug wires over the valve cover? or under the headers

I like over, Brings me back when I would be doing plastic Car Modles grabing moms sewing thread gluing them stiff and then glueing them inplace that is the way it has to be
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