Hey y'all, just a couple of questions for you about my truck. It's a 1985 f-150 explorer short bed standard cab. It is 4wD with a t-18 4 speed. I swapped in a 5.0 out of a 97 explorer, so it is a roller cam motor with GT-40 heads. I have an HEI style distributor on it. That is where my first question comes in. Does anyone know of a set of plug wires that fits the Ford 302 well with the taller HEI distributor? I was wondering if a set of SBC wires would fit nice. I know I could get cut to fit, but I never seem to get them quite right haha. Secondly, I know there is a thread out there, but I can't seem to find it. I am looking for info on converting the clutch fan over to a Lincoln mk (z I think) electric fan. Thanks y'all for any help in advance. I love this community and the endless depths of knowledge and experience here.

 

Where do you have the distributor stabbed into the engine at? The factory position if you are leaning over the radiator looking down on top of the distributor cap has #1 plug wire at the 1 o'clock position. Which would put #1 on the driver's side near the front of the carb. If you do not have the distributor stabbed in the engine correctly, even the factory plug wires with the factory distributor will not fit very well.

 

Remove all GM components, install correct, (and superior) Ford components. There, I've said it.

But to your question, I doubt if an SBC wire set would dress correctly on an HEI equipped Ford engine. First of all, distributor placement at opposite ends of the engine would make any compatibility with wire lengths purely coincidental and I think you are looking for a clean wire dress. The GM HEI ignition also included a retainer clip that works with the molded ends on the wire set, so I doubt the retainer clip could be used with Ford wires, (although the HEI system will work without it).

Looks like cut to fit and custom crimp would be your best option.

 

Man I hear you, I really do. But I was so tired of replacing duraspark boxes, not to mention having all the extra wiring with it. I absoloutly love this HEI distributor, especially for the 90 dollar price tag. It's not the end of the world to use the cut to fit. I was just hoping someone knew something off the shelf. You know, I'm being lazy haha. One more question . Does anyone know where I can get a dipstick tube that fits that Ford explorer block? The hole seems smaller than the old school 302 blocks, and the explorer tubes didn't seem to want to work with the long tube headers. Thanks again for all talk help.

 

 

 

Try wires from a big block Ford. They should physically be longer to go around the bigger block.