8BA spark plug wire brackets

[oldford2]

Any pictures of nice home made 8BA spark plug wire brackets?

Thanks
John

[tubman]

I don't have any pictures of homemade ones, but I do have a tip. The originals are not too hard to find, but the rubber coating on them is usually in poor shape. I strip it off, clean them up, and dip them in that stuff you can buy at the hardware store that coats tool handles. With a little practice and care, you can come up with good results.

[NealinCA]

I just used the original strap type with a rubber grommet and cut the wires to a reasonable length...





They are a pretty simple strap that could be duplicated fairly easily...



Neal

[36coupe]

I’m going to bring this back to the top. I’m looking for a picture of the brackets installed.

I have 4 brackets, 2 with the holes, that I think go on either side of the right thermostat housing and 2 with the grommet that I think go on either side of the intake behind the generator. Short on the right and tall on the left?
Sound right?

[19Fordy]

You can also modify the originals by cutting off the original openings and brazing on "directional" washers. Then small rubber grommets are inserted in the washers. You could easily make them from scratch. Allows fitment of larger dia. 8mm. plug wires.

[51 MERC-CT]

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Used my original ones but modified them to allow the removal of the wires without having to string the wires thru them.

[19Fordy]

Very good idea.

[tubman]

Just so everyone is aware. I believe there are two kinds of late flathead spark plug wire looms, those with the individual holes in them, and those that are just sheet metal "straps" wrapped around one larger rubber grommet, through which all the wires pass. My '51 had the kind with individual holes, while a couple of 8RT engines I disassembled for parts had the other kind. I have always believed that the "one-hole" looks were early (possibly '49 only), but don't know for sure.

[Black Fifty]

Not original, but slick!

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by tubman

Just so everyone is aware. I believe there are two kinds of late flathead spark plug wire looms, those with the individual holes in them, and those that are just sheet metal "straps" wrapped around one larger rubber grommet, through which all the wires pass. My '51 had the kind with individual holes, while a couple of 8RT engines I disassembled for parts had the other kind. I have always believed that the "one-hole" looks were early (possibly '49 only), but don't know for sure.

I found both on one set of wires

[Ross F-1]

Originally Posted by tubman

...I have always believed that the "one-hole" looks were early (possibly '49 only), but don't know for sure.

At least on the trucks, the cloverleaf style was late-'50 and on.

Nicest wiring I've ever seen (forget whose they are, Roger/Sac' Ice Cream Truck I think?)

[Flathead Fever]

Here is a phot from the Grand National Roadster Show

[Merc Cruzer]

Single grommet, 2 brackets

[tubman]

"Merc Cruzer", what year engine is that? I think my "single grommet" units were from an early 8RT, but I did disassemble a '51 Merc about the same time and don't remember what came from where. It would be nice to nail this down if I can.

[Merc Cruzer]

53' Mercury

[Flathead Fever]

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

Single grommet, 2 brackets

They no longer recommend running plug wires up against each other because the magnetic field from one plug wire can actually create spark in the wire running along side of it. You can take a plug wire that is not connected at either end and lay it along side a firing plug wire and it will create a spark in the plug wire that's just laying there. It would only be a problem if the parallel wire is next in the firing order. Like a Ford FE big block. The last two cylinders in the firing order were 7 and 8. So, when 7 is firing 8 has just filled the cylinder with fresh fuel/air because it's at the bottom of the intake stroke. This could cause engine knock if 7 induced current into the number 8 wire and ignited the air/fuel mixture early. It was easy to have this happen too because cylinders 7 and 8 are right next to each other. The fix is to keep them as far apart as possible, or cross them at 90 degrees.

Its really important on the wiring on the newer computer controlled cars to keep plug wires away fron the compuer controlled wiring. They had a problem with the Presidential limousine. When it would get about a block away from the White House the engine would quit. What they finally figured out was when they used the radio to call and open the gate the high current from the radio wiring was running right along side the wires to the engine's controller.

[solidaxle]

I took an earlier set of metal wire looms, cut off the flute and bend and reattached the flute . Also moved two of the mounting legs.

[Merc Cruzer]

Originally Posted by 51 MERC-CT

Used my original ones but modified them to allow the removal of the wires without having to string the wires thru them.

Are these brackets still available?

[36coupe]

Originally Posted by Merc Cruzer

Single grommet, 2 brackets

Long one on the right short on the left?

The best I can tell they had the two clover leaf one for the 4 wires on the passenger (right) side. Maybe on the thermostat housing?

[tubman]

Originally Posted by 36coupe

Long one on the right short on the left?

The best I can tell they had the two clover leaf one for the 4 wires on the passenger (right) side. Maybe on the thermostat housing?

They actually mount under a couple of intake manifold bolts. I'd post a picture except my cars are in Minnesota and I'm not. If you get a set of stock brackets and hold them up near the top center of the engine, it's pretty self-evident where they go. I like the ones with the individual holes and I have gotten them off eBay and also from a guy named "Tony Martino" on here and the H.A.M.B. He's been a very good source for used parts for me.

Note : They are "handed" (not identical).