Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
MORE wrenching? 
Plenty of places to share. | | Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,017 Posts1,055,257 Members48,417 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,189 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,189 | I am working on a friends 1954 Pontiac straight eight. The small wire in the distributor from the coil to the points is about broke. Its always flexing due to the vacuum advance moving the timing plate. Is there a source for this type of wire? I assume you would want steel inner wire. Joe | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,959 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,959 | If I remember correctly, the wire you are talking about is under the breaker plate. It's been many years since I worked on one of these, but I think last time I did, I used a wire from a Ford/Holly distributor. They are still readily available. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 461 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 461 | If you are refering to the primary wire (coil to points), no, steel-core wire is not the proper wire, even if you can find it. The wire you need is 'test lead' wire, which has a large number of small-gauge strands. It might also be called 'hook-up wire'. That kind of wire is used because of its flexibility. You usually can't find it in the retail market, so most often that wire gets replaced with 'standard' 16 AWG copper wire. If you have a choice in the matter, get wire that has the highest number of individual wires of the smallest diameter that gives about 16 gauge wire. If you find the wire specifications, it will have the format of: number of individual strands/size of each strand, such as 16/30 for 16 strands of 30 gauge wire. That combination results in about an 18 AWG conductor. Electronic supply stores might have what you need.
If you are refering to a bonding wire between the breaker plate and the distributor housing, those are, or should be, available, but you might have to use a Ford or Holley part.
Harvester | | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,740 | The quick solution is to use a wire off an old condenser. It's the high-flex type, and about the right size and length. The primary wire for a Ford point-type distributor is long enough to make several breaker plate ground wires. NAPA or a good oltime FLAPS should be able to get that wire, as it was a chronic failure item on Fords. Be sure to solder the terminal lugs to the wire on both ends to get the best possible ground.
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,189 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2000 Posts: 5,189 | Thanks guys, I did end up using a wire from NAPA. I didn't ask what it was from, they just told me it was replacement distributor wire. It worked out great.
I new good old copper wire off the rack wouldn't hold up, so now I know where other sources are. Joe | | |
|
|
