My truck is missing and I touched a wire and shocked the crap out of me. It's the original 1950 V8 flathead. Can I pick plugs and wire up at a local auto store or do I need to order them from lmc or obsolete ford? Went to oreilly's and they weren't much help.

 

I picked up plugs and wires at NAPA.

 

Does your engine have the cloverleaf-style wire guides? (see pic) The only thing that will fit thru them is the original exposed metal clips. The way around that is to buy a cut-to-fit cable set, thread the wires thru the cloverleaf, then put on the rubber boots and terminals. Almost any universal-fit, cut-to-fit set for a V8 will be long enough.

 

I don't have a napa near by.

Oreilly's had a universal kit but the clips that went into the distributor looked different than the one I had off. So I wasn't really sure if those would work.

 

None of the local houses had the wires so I got those from Dennis Carpenter. Got the plugs from Advance Auto I believe.

 

Plugs are either Champion 844 or Autolite 216. I use universal wires with metal strand wire. I run the wires through the looms then solder then ends on. Works until the insulation on the plug wires crumbles.

 

Is that Champion 844 a new style plug? I believe H-10's are the usual choice. I've had much better luck with the Autolites anyway.

 

I know I need new wires cause I had one shock the crap outta me. But I think when all that happened, it vapor locked. Had someone ask me about it at a car show Saturday if I had that happen to me. He explained it, and what he explained is exactly what happened to me. Is there a way to fix that without having to switch to an electric fuel pump?

 

Vapor lock is exceptionally rare IMO.

 

Even when still running a manual pump?

 

If the suction side of the pump is restricted, blocked, or has gummy rubber hoses, it will produce symptoms that mimic vapor lock. If you run the gas line right along the exhaust, same thing.

 

I have never had a flathead vapor lock. I have seen fuel pumps go bad and the fuel pump pushrods worn short.

Champion number 844 is the H-10. However, the person behind the counter at the parts store probably won't figure that out for you.