Distributor cap - Plug wires - Location

I've searched the internet a good bit today for a diagram, picture, something that would show me the layout of the spark plug wires and cylinders they go to. Looked here a bit too, but mostly found a numerical layout but nothing like, this goes here, that goes there. I'm still looking for a manual for this car, and will purchase one soon. Until I do, could someone help me out a bit.

I believe I have this right. Driver's side, front of engine to the firewall, 1, 3, 5, 7. Passenger's side, front of engine to the firewall, 2, 4, 6, 8. Then I followed each wire and yup, labeled them. Could someone double check my work so I can memorize if correct?



Thanks again, greatly appreciated!

Paul

 

Looks like you got it. 1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 clockwise.

 

That’s great! Thanks for the confirmation, greatly appreciated!

Didn’t mind marking up the old wires, to be replaced at some point soon anyway.

From what I’m gathering, the original owner had some work done when he bought it 15yrs ago, then, nothing. Based on the paperwork he provided, drove the car 5000 or so miles in those 15yrs.

The downside, gaskets and seals pretty much dried up.

Question, if I had leaking head gaskets, would I not see water in the oil? And/or smell antifreeze in the exhaust or smoke in the exhaust?

Here’s why I ask. From all outward appearances, the valve cover gaskets flow oil like Niagara Falls. There’s a ton of sludge/oil build-up on the block where the exhaust manifolds bolt on to the head. Lots of oily smoke there when hot and running.

Zero smoke in the exhaust. No smell of antifreeze in the exhaust. No water contamination in the oil, no oil in the coolant or coolant overflow bottle.

Still waiting on valve cover gaskets to remedy.

Anyway, just thinking out loud.

Paul

 

Head gaskets don't usually "fail" like cork, paper, rubber seals and gaskets.

But, engines that have sat long enough without being operated are a ticking bomb.

And you may well have a failure sooner if you put it back in service without correcting issues that may be hidden.

Given the guy drove 5k miles in 15 years, and I'm willing to bet a pile of green bananas that he did not do 15 or more periodic oil changes, or drain, flush and put in fresh gas, or any other good preventative maintenance, and no telling what history the car had in the prior +35 years.

Consider this. How much would it cost in time, resources and money to pull the engine, and do an investigative inspection and possible cost of rebuild, vs the cost of finding a replacement core and doing a full on rebuild after the one you have fails from operating with unknown condition?

(aviation background colors my bias)

Yeah, a thousand people will tell you to "send it", but I am going to be the salmon.

"Overkill" was one of my callsigns...

 

Trunkmonkey,

Um, based on what I’ve seen so far. Green ink on ceramic part of spark plug insulators. Very old. Rust on face of oil filter. Crud inside fuel filter. I’m guessing zero PM on vehicle while it sat in his collection.

Right now I’m also working on my ‘05 Lincoln Town car. Engine is stripped down to the block and heads. Prepping to replace the 24 lifter followers.

That lil project started out as many here are well aware. AC compressor died. While in there, I thought, hey, that plastic and aluminum radiator with 160,000 miles on it will leak soon, might as well replace it and the condenser and the accumulator/dryer. Aluminum crossover on the intake manifold is leaking, that too needs to be replaced. Two COPs failed shortly before, should replace all 8 of those too. One of the injectors failed, should replace all 8 of those too. Valve cover gaskets are weeping a bit and need to be replaced. Hey, the WP, pulleys and on and on and on…. Mission creep indeed.

It’s been fun and will be able to get another 160,000 miles out of her when I’m done.

Once done, full attention will go to the Buick. Right now, putting together a laundry list of things needed on the Buick.

I really want to go deeper on the Buick. My biggest problem is space to house an engine out of a car. I don’t have any. Shed, got one, crammed full of stuff. Shop, got one, crammed full of scrap. Wife and I are scrappers. Barn, got one, full of ducks. Garage, nope, no garage. I’ll figure it out, always do.

Always wanted to rebuild an engine. This one may very well be it.
I’ve seen some tear downs on old engines such as this. The sludge at the bottom of the oil pan has me quite curious to see what’s lurking in mine based on what I’ve seen so far with this car.

Gonna be fun nonetheless!

Paul