I know I can buy a set of wires from NAPA or a couple of on-line vendors but I'm looking for cheap. This is for a truck I just want to get running and sell, I don't want to stick anymore money in it than possible. The McParts places have wire sets for under $15 for a bunch of different cars but they don't list any for this engine. A good parts store has a semi-custom set you can trim to fit but they want $30+. I want to buy a set of wires from one of the national places but unfortunately they tend to bounce off the wall if they can't find the part listed in their computer. I asked if they have a generic set but they keep asking "For what vehicle?".

What I want to know has anyone used a set of spark plug wires listed for another vehicle or a cheap generic set for their 226? Something that will be listed in the McParts place's computer. I already tried a set from an early '70s Ford truck but most of the wires were too short.

 

Here's a link to a set of universal wires from o'reilly (part #4040):
ACCEL Super Stock 4040 - Spark Plug Wire Set | O'Reilly Auto Parts

Looks like they're overpriced for your budget though - $37.

I ran into a similar problem recently, and ended up ordering a closeout universal set from Rock Auto (~$16 including shipping). Took about a week to get them (arrived yesterday). Don't they have a warehouse in Madison though? Being fairly close, maybe they'd ship to you a little faster.

 

Come on Bob....

...you don't have a box of old plug wires laying about the place??? I was out in my shed last week and found two such boxes...one for EFI plug wires and another box full of distributor type plug wires. These 2 boxes have saved my hiney several times in these types of situations.

I'd measure your longest wire and then go back and compare that to the cheapo $15 set...I'll bet you can make them work

Bobby

 

Can you really still get a set - even only 6 - of sparkplug wires for just $15.00 nowadays? Can you even buy ANYTHING for only $15.00?I ate lunch with my daughter and her boyfriend earlier today,our burger-with-fries plates cost about 15 bucks a pop at my local brew-pub.

 

The truck I'm working on is a flipper, I bought it a couple of weeks ago along with a couple of flatties for a good price, at least what I felt was a good price. I bought with my kid to sell but I don't want to throw too much into it but I also feel I can get a little more for it if it's running decent.

I pulled the truck out of an inner city garage where it sat, I was told, for about 20 years. When I got it home and started playing with the engine the first thing I did was pull the plugs and cleaned and regapped them. Then I checked the firing order and found a couple of the wires out of order. Straightened them out and got nothing but bangs. Checked the rotor and it seemed out of line with the timing mark. Moved the distributor over a notch and it banged less but still wouldn't turn over. I gave up for a couple of days. The other day I pulled #1 plug and cranked the engine until I got compression, lined the timing mark up and pulled the cap. The distributor was out by 188°. Pulled it and reinstalled it and the engine fired up. Whoever was messing with it 20 years ago must have had his head up his butt. Probably thought it was junk so he parked it. Some times it is the simple things.

 

What I really like about the McPart places is they won't even try to find a part if it's not in the puter. Some time I've gotten lucky and found a counter person who will actually know what he/she is doing and will physically go back and look around.

I know there were generic, cut to fit kits sold some time back. That's all I want.

 

What if you ask for a 70's with a 300?

I know what you mean about some stores. I went in and asked for a universal part of some sort which I can't recall what at the moment and the fella asked me for what vehicle. I said does it matter it's universal. He said, if you want me to find it it does!

 

I spent $50 on the wires for my '51 226 from LMC Truck. When they arrived, I discovered they must be for the G series before Ford moved the distributor for the H series. They're all too short, so back they go. Now I'm considering making my own set for a lot cheaper. So I measured the wires tonight. If yours is an H, maybe this will help:
Plugs 1 & 2 = 22"
Plugs 3 & 5 = 21"
Plug 4 = 19"
Plug 6 = 26"
Coil wire = 12"

That's 12 feet of wire plus the boots and terminals. Should be able to make the whole thing for under $25, if I get the parts from O'Reilly.

Does anyone know if the '52 plug wire set from LMC Truck is for the OHC 6 cyl? I assume it must be, as '51 was the last flatty. That set's only $18, but I don't know the length of those wires either.

 

How about buying a cheap set for a V8 (like a SBC) and just using the longest six wires?
I only suggest SBC because their parts seem to be the cheapest.....

 

I did buy a cheapie set from a local big box store. The oldest they had listed was for an early '70s Ford. Most wires were way too short. The spark plugs on the OHV 6 are on the side close to the coil while the coil for the flat 226 is in the middle of the side and the wires have to be run to the top of the engine.

A friend suggested a wire set for a early '70s Skylark with a six cylinder engine. Advance has them for $21. I'll go down this afternoon and match them up to the crusty, rock hard originals on the truck.

I've found if you do a little internet searching you can find parts that will fit the old vehicle you're working on. Some times you can find a newer car will use the same part. I've done this a bunch of times while working on my '37 Buick.

If you think finding some parts for our old Ford trucks are hard to find try getting parts for a pre-war car. I didn't realize this when my Buick followed me home. I just thought another old vehicle. First, I didn't realize that before the war Buick, and I would assume the other GM marks, changed designs not only every year but model to model. Very few parts will fit from year to the next and also model to model within the same year. Second, there are only two dealers of reproduction parts for early Buicks. Third, old Buick parts are 3-4 times the cost of old Ford truck parts. I found this all out after I got the car, I guess I should have done better research before buying it. Because of these reasons I have rebuilt and made a lot of my own replacement parts. I have also searched for cheaper parts that I can use from newer cars and I can find at local parts stores. There was also an awsome magazine published for '37-38 Buicks, The Torque Tube, that is no longer printed but most of the issues are posted the editor's web site. These magazines are invaluable with all the information in them including articles listing interchangeable parts from newer cars that can be used on these old Buicks.

Funny thing with the Buick guys is most won't even consider, at least not publicly, using a part not made specifically for their Buicks. They would rather spend huge $$$ for a part from one of the two Buick reproduction parts places or wait years to find NOS parts than go to a local NAPA store to get a part from a '68 Buick that will fit their car. The Buick guys are also a rather uppity bunch. Unlike here where every kind of truck is accepted from (gulp) rat rods to concours restorations, the Buick guys will ostracize anyone coming to their discussion boards who is deviating from concourse restoration. I've had my fun with some because although I'm building my car as close to stock as possible I try to save as much money as possible and also have installed upgrades for better drivability and safety.

 

B1A-12259-A .. Spark Plug Wire Set / 226 & 254 I-6 / Obsolete

ANTIQUE AUTO SUPPLY in Arlington TX has ONE = 817-275-2381.

 

Bob,

Thank goodness for the internet. At least now-a-days we have the ability to search numerous websites and cross reference parts, remember the old days when you had to relay on the counter guys or a kindly soul at a wrecking yard to get any kind of cross reference info.

Bobby

 

I think from now on, I'll wait to reply to a thread until I know what I'm talking about. The H series 226 started in September '47 and ran thru '51, so my plug wire set from LMC Truck is correct. But I made a huge mistake when I tried to install them... I read the instructions. Their diagram shows the shortest plug wire going to #1, with the wires getting progressively longer thru #6. Well, that ain't how it works. I tried to run the wire to #1, it was way too short, so I made the assumption they were all too short. The shortest wire goes to #4. This morning, I compared their chart to my measurements of the current wires, and sure enough, they fit. DOH!

 

I recall a thread on here where someone said the wire set for a 223 worked on a flat 6... Could be just in my memory tho

 

Buick guys are no different from Packard, Cadillac, Hudson. Pierce-Arrow and other peeps that own specific pre-war cars. If it's not genuine, or an excellent reproduction, they'll wait till they find NOS parts or someone reproduces it.

And...very few of these people spend any time on the internet. It's been my experience that 'internet' collectors are a far different bunch from dyed-in-the-wool collectors, of which I am, btw.

I've been in this hobby for over 50 years, currently own a 1934 Packard V12. I blanch when I see peeps installing Pinto (aka Mustang II) front suspension in vehicles it was never designed for, swapping in P/S, P/D/B, A/C and other 'modern' convieniences.

What's the point of the owning an old pile of miseries, then swapping in lawd only knows what parts from newer piles of misery? Might as well just buy the newer pile and be done with it.

Rant concluded...for now.