Wayne, I agree with the consensus about the origin of the red #1 boot. I am sure that Chrysler thought it a good idea and carried it on for other engines besides Hemis. My 56 Dodge 315 Poly engine had the original Autolight plug wires on it when I acquired it. It had the red #1 boot. At Hershey, I remember noticing a 59 Chrysler that had original looking wires with a red #1 boot on a "B" motor. Dave -----Original Message----- From: Wayne Graefen [SMTP:wrgraefen@xxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Sunday, October 10, 1999 5:40 PM To: L-FORWARDLOOK@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [FWDLK] One Red Distributor Wire Boot 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 |