charliemccraney

For an '88 Firebird with 305 tbi, 3 of the 8 plug wires have long, straight boots on the spark plug end. The rest have 90 degree boots.
Do the long, straight boot wires go on cylinder #s 5, 7, and 8?

charliemccraney

Anyone?

charliemccraney

Anyone have an oil change planned in the next few days who can look at the wires while he's under there?

TNT_Z28

it shouldnt matter what cylinders you use them on as long as the wires go from the correct distributor terminal to the correct cylinder. and as long as they dont touch the exaust or each other. if your worried just go buy a new set of plug wires

charliemccraney

I do like for things to be correct. It must matter for some reason or they wouldn't have been designed like that.
I have a new set of wires but they don't answer my question. In fact, they seem incorrect which is in part the reason for the question.

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

It most certainly does matter. The 'heavy' boots on those wires are to protect them against heat. Thus, they are supposed to be located adjacent to the exhaust manifolds. That's how it is on my 88 GTA. The ones with the angled ends are for the plugs that are not right next to exhaust pipes.

charliemccraney

Then that leads me to a 2nd question. I picked up a set of Autolite wires. According to the Autolite website, they are correct for my car. However, if I install the heavy booted wires at the 3 locations which are near the exhaust pipe, then the set is clearly not correct. And quite clearly the previously installed set is not correct as only 1 of the heavy boot wires is installed near a pipe. I purchased and installed the previous set but did not consider the significance of those 3 wires. And I copied the placement that the previous owner had used which means that 3 sets of wires have not been correct.

So the 2nd question is where can I buy a correct set of wires?

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

I bought mine at Advance Auto parts... whatever they recommended as a standard replacement. It may well have been Autolite. You may want to check the routing of the wires. Mine are routed down along the bellhousing, then under the exhaust manifolds to the plugs, held in place by wire looms.

IMHO, if you are using the old set as a guide, this may be leading to some confusion. Try swapping the three heavily booted wires around (making sure to keep careful track of the locations on the cap) and see if that helps.

charliemccraney

I'm routing it along the stock path, in the stock looms. I'm not using the old set as a guide this time because I want it right. With the heavily booted wires where they should go, the 2 rear cylinders on the driver side and the rear cylinder on the passenger side, other wires are not long enough.
Is '88 some funky year where I need to order a set for a different year or application to get the correct set?

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

Unfortunately, I don't remember how they went on because I did it a few months ago... but I will be glad to check next time I get a chance (the car is a project and is parked in my garage waiting for a transmission swap).

As near as I can tell, I did buy Autolite, and they should be the same for all V8s around 88.

david chambers

according to my factory service manual(you DO have the stock manifolds.....right?) the 2 straight booted ones are for cyls#2 and 4 the factory routing goes like this..the wires on the pass side go OVER the valve cover.BUT on the drivers side they go around the back of the head and UNDER the exhaust manifold BETWEEN the block and exhaust manifold this routing was for the LG4 and LB9 i also bought a set of factory wires only to say to myself WTF!!!!! cause they looked all wrong dont waste time and money on "haynes" or "chilton" manuals,they are vague to say the least buy yourself the factory manual and ALL your questions shall be answered

five7kid

iTrader: (14)

It doesn't matter as long as the rotor is pointing to the cap terminal for the wire that goes to the cylinder that should be firing at that time.

ternandes

iTrader: (7)

Five 7, of course you are right, but the boots on the plugs that go next to exhaust are heavier, and I have to believe that there is a reason for that. That was really his only issue.

phess11

Does this help....

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/hist...e-routing.html