Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
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Topic author - Posts: 1922
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Rich
- Last Name: Bingham
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
- Location: Blackfoot, Idaho
Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
"Curiosity killed the purist" is an old saying often referred to on these boards. Here's my rambling tale:
Last summer, somehow (?!?) the radiator drain petcock came unscrewed and was lost while we were in the hayfield changing the irrigation water. I almost took a "spin" around the section after completing the chore, not knowing we had lost all the water in the radiator, then (fortunately) decided not to, which averted certain disaster. Quarter-mile to the home place, when I pulled in the yard, I discovered things were mighty HOT, owing to the lack of coolant. (Some of you may have experience with this phenomenon). To get to the plug wire question, I noted #1 plug wire had been fairly fried by the unusual amount of engine heat (it was a bit close to the manifold as well) . . . so, I ordered a replacement set stated as being corrrect for my '13 T.
When the new set arrived, I noted the cloth cover on the cables was a sort of plain, olive drab color and not lacquered. The wires I had been running have a cloth braid, a "tiger stripe" yellow, and are apparently coated. My question is, if authentic 1913 "purity" is an issue, which is correct ? Either ? Both ? Neither ? (I like the yellow tiger-stripe better).
To end the story, I haven't yet changed the plug wires. As Steve J. is wont to quote, having them wahrs "fried" didn't hurt the runnin' of it none . . . so I left them on. My nod to the fashion cult of "patina", as I continue to wear out my Model T while I enjoy using it ! (Plug wire photos below)
Last summer, somehow (?!?) the radiator drain petcock came unscrewed and was lost while we were in the hayfield changing the irrigation water. I almost took a "spin" around the section after completing the chore, not knowing we had lost all the water in the radiator, then (fortunately) decided not to, which averted certain disaster. Quarter-mile to the home place, when I pulled in the yard, I discovered things were mighty HOT, owing to the lack of coolant. (Some of you may have experience with this phenomenon). To get to the plug wire question, I noted #1 plug wire had been fairly fried by the unusual amount of engine heat (it was a bit close to the manifold as well) . . . so, I ordered a replacement set stated as being corrrect for my '13 T.
When the new set arrived, I noted the cloth cover on the cables was a sort of plain, olive drab color and not lacquered. The wires I had been running have a cloth braid, a "tiger stripe" yellow, and are apparently coated. My question is, if authentic 1913 "purity" is an issue, which is correct ? Either ? Both ? Neither ? (I like the yellow tiger-stripe better).
To end the story, I haven't yet changed the plug wires. As Steve J. is wont to quote, having them wahrs "fried" didn't hurt the runnin' of it none . . . so I left them on. My nod to the fashion cult of "patina", as I continue to wear out my Model T while I enjoy using it ! (Plug wire photos below)
"Get a horse !"
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Topic author - Posts: 1922
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Rich
- Last Name: Bingham
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
- Location: Blackfoot, Idaho
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- Posts: 6789
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
- First Name: Richard
- Last Name: Eagle
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
- Location: Idaho Falls, ID
- MTFCA Number: 1219
- Contact:
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
I can't speak to 1913 but your top photo looks awfully like the original wires on my 1923 White (left photo). These are other wires I have thought to be used in the '20s.
When did I do that?
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- First Name: Larry
- Last Name: Smith
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 13 Touring, 13 Roadster, 17 Coupelet, 25 Roadster P/U
- Location: Lomita, California
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Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Hi Rich:
I believe Gail Rodda is the one making the closest thing to original spark plug wires. I have a few nos 26-7 spark plug wires laying around, and they have a tracer on them. The ones I use in my T's are all genuine Ford wires that I made from Ford V-8 wires, and have a tracer, and look very period, but are not correct.
I believe Gail Rodda is the one making the closest thing to original spark plug wires. I have a few nos 26-7 spark plug wires laying around, and they have a tracer on them. The ones I use in my T's are all genuine Ford wires that I made from Ford V-8 wires, and have a tracer, and look very period, but are not correct.
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- First Name: Raoul
- Last Name: Vaughn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 truck
- Location: Egypt, Wa.
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Most of us weren't alive to know the pre-WW2 America, but a few of us saw those
lingering tidbits and became intrigued, and we ended up the crazy "old stuff" collector
people on our streets today. I too am interested in what is an actual "correct" wire
or whatever, to whatever the subject might be, because I like things to not look
modern, or blatantly "wrong", but I tend to throw something of a "large blanket" over
the entire pre-war era as being "period correct" for the look I like, allowing for fixes
and early repairs/replacements by original-use owners of my cars and other old junk.
Much of these fixes are the very history of the car and times that attracts me to this
stuff in the first place. Sometimes making something exactly correct would erase a
neat part of that history, and rather than make it OEM correct, I prefer to leave the
change as part of a more desirable (to me) "period correct". BTW - love that you are
using your T as the tool it was built to be.
lingering tidbits and became intrigued, and we ended up the crazy "old stuff" collector
people on our streets today. I too am interested in what is an actual "correct" wire
or whatever, to whatever the subject might be, because I like things to not look
modern, or blatantly "wrong", but I tend to throw something of a "large blanket" over
the entire pre-war era as being "period correct" for the look I like, allowing for fixes
and early repairs/replacements by original-use owners of my cars and other old junk.
Much of these fixes are the very history of the car and times that attracts me to this
stuff in the first place. Sometimes making something exactly correct would erase a
neat part of that history, and rather than make it OEM correct, I prefer to leave the
change as part of a more desirable (to me) "period correct". BTW - love that you are
using your T as the tool it was built to be.
"Working today, for a seamless tomorrow"
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- Posts: 201
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 6:21 pm
- First Name: George
- Last Name: Andreasen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 0...building from parts
- Location: Alturas, California
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Years ago when I was collecting/restoring hit and miss engines, I went in "havsies" with my brother in law on a 100' coil of plug wire. It's yellow with an orange or red stripe if I recall, and has a braided surface. We chose that combination simply because it looked "correct" on our engines.
Guess what's going on my '18 engine? If a purist objects........oh, well.
Here's the company. They have a monstrous selection of ignition bits and pieces to choose from.
https://brillman.com/
Guess what's going on my '18 engine? If a purist objects........oh, well.
Here's the company. They have a monstrous selection of ignition bits and pieces to choose from.
https://brillman.com/
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- Posts: 1028
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 5:32 am
- First Name: Leo
- Last Name: van Stirum
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 Huckster, '66 CJ5 daily driver
- Location: Netherlands
- Board Member Since: 2016
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Don't know who's T these are from, but its a "period correct" fix in my book
When in trouble, do not fear, blame the second engineer !
Leo van Stirum, Netherlands
'23 Huckster, '66 CJ5 daily driver
Leo van Stirum, Netherlands
'23 Huckster, '66 CJ5 daily driver
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- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
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- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
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Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
I don't now if they would be the same for 1913, but I saw these 1922 wires for sale at an auction. I can't tell what color(s) the cloth covering was when they were new. The color faded long ago. I think the only way to know original plug wire colors would be to find original wires that were stored in a dark place.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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Topic author - Posts: 1922
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Rich
- Last Name: Bingham
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
- Location: Blackfoot, Idaho
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Thanks for the replies, and pictures. George, that's a good link ! Leo, I dunno about the "bob-wahr" - a guy could get hurt on the barbs ! Rich, Steve, thanks for the pix, I'm thinking most any cloth braid cable is "correct" enough. Years ago I bought a spool of black lacquered cloth cable, the alternative was that rubber/graphite stuff for radio suppression. It doesn't work on a T model ! Raoul, thanks for the kind words. It's most fun to drive the T with a "purpose". Like a good dog or a using pony, "Lizzie" is happiest when she's useful !
"Get a horse !"
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- First Name: Richard
- Last Name: Eagle
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- Location: Idaho Falls, ID
- MTFCA Number: 1219
- Contact:
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Steve, what ever those you show are they are very prevalent. I have seen those on many, many coil boxes and magnetos. I believe the ones my first photo shows is a less weathered one of those. Someone may know when this was first used.
Rich
Rich
When did I do that?
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- Posts: 6463
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- MTFCA Number: 16175
- MTFCI Number: 14758
- Board Member Since: 2007
- Contact:
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
I'm another who years ago bought a roll of black lacquered plug wire. It may not be correct, but it works.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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- First Name: Dan
- Last Name: Hatch
- Location: Alabama
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Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
A few years ago I bought out an older gents who cleaned out Ford dealers in the 50s/60s. It this 3 trailer loads of parts were a box of plug wires. While these were old and tried, they looked like what Gail Rodda makes and sells. Thanks, Dan
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- Posts: 93
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- First Name: RJ
- Last Name: Lucyszyn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Speedster
- Location: Walworth, NY
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
the brown wire (saddle color) is 9mm with a matt finish the 9mm Black with the double red stripes are also matt finish The 9mm oak with the black tracer is a gloss finish. We mfg these for Langs, Mac's Birdhaven etc.. www.rjlautofasteners.com
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- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 10:51 am
- First Name: Richard
- Last Name: Eagle
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1909 TR 1914 TR 1915 Rd 1920 Spdstr 1922 Coupe 1925 Tudor
- Location: Idaho Falls, ID
- MTFCA Number: 1219
- Contact:
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
FWIW the motorcycle restorers offer a wide range of wire types. This is just one site.
https://revivalcycles.com/products/revi ... -cable-kit
https://revivalcycles.com/products/revi ... -cable-kit
When did I do that?
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- Posts: 93
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:01 pm
- First Name: RJ
- Last Name: Lucyszyn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Speedster
- Location: Walworth, NY
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Rich alot of those wires are 7mm unless you are putting on a distributor
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- Last Name: Anderson
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914, 1920, 1923, 1923
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Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Gail's are the closest, as Larry and Dan say, but you can make them just a smidge closer to Ford's by putting a coat or two of electric motor varnish on them. They come uncoated.
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Topic author - Posts: 1922
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 11:23 am
- First Name: Rich
- Last Name: Bingham
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 runabout
- Location: Blackfoot, Idaho
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Rich, those are pretty !! The offering looks like what is offered on the tractor restoration link George posted. 9mm is 3/8", 7mm is approx. 3/32" smaller. A thinner cable would work as well but the difference is noticeable visually.
"Get a horse !"
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- Posts: 93
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:01 pm
- First Name: RJ
- Last Name: Lucyszyn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Speedster
- Location: Walworth, NY
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
Make sure the wires you are purchasing are soldered on
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- Posts: 93
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 3:01 pm
- First Name: RJ
- Last Name: Lucyszyn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Speedster
- Location: Walworth, NY
Re: Plug wires for purists . . . a rambling post
These are some of th e wire sets that we mfg. We also do custom wire sets.