Re: [FWDLK] One Red Distributor Wire Boot

["Jack and Loretta" <johnaire@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wayne,
   My 55 Plymouth 6 cylinder has the red boot on the #1 dist wire.   The
wires are also numbered 1 thru 6 on the wires.  These are the original
wires that were on the car when I got it in 1989 and I didn't replace
them being the numbers on the wires and the red boot.  I just cleaned
them up and they look very good and runs fine.  My car in 1989 had
37,100 original miles on it.
Jack Johnson  55 Plymouth Belvedere


Wayne Graefen wrote:
>
> Howdy,
>
> Over in the Chrysler 300 Club International e-mail group (club
> members only) there is a discussion going on about Chrysler's
> factory use of one red distributor wire boot.   I'd like your
> input because I think it applies to a number of forwardlook cars
> (perhaps all?).
>
> Question is When and Where?
>
> Early consensus is the practice started in 1951 on the new hemi
> V8 of putting a red boot on the distributor end of #1 spark plug
> wire because the hemi plug wires are fully enclosed on top of
> the valve covers.  This way a mechanic could pull the #1 wire
> easily to do a timing check.  This would have continued through
> 1958 on all '51-58 Chrysler hemis, '52-57 Dodge hemis, '53-57
> DeSoto hemis, and hemi-powered Dodge trucks (into 1959).
>
> Did the wedge V8s or any of the sixes also use a red boot on #1
> during that period?
>
> Then in the post hemi period into perhaps the mid '60s the 300
> guys are finding red boots on the coil wire OR on the #1 plug
> wire,   It would make some sense to continue this plug wire aid
> for the mechanics even though the original source cause of the
> wire covers was gone, but there is no apparent reason to put a
> red boot on the obvious center coil wire.
>
> I know they all look black after many miles of dirt, oil and
> fumes.  But if you have an original low mileage car that may
> have original factory plug wires, you may want to take a rag and
> some solvent and wipe down your plug wire boots to check this
> authenticity point for the benefit of us all.
>
> And if you find your car had a red boot, don't fret about
> replacing it.  Gary Goers repro part #413 is a red spark plug
> wire boot.
>
> Any and all comments welcome, either to the list or to me
> personally.  I'll pass along the results to the 300 Club Intl.
>
> Thanks!
> Wayne