70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

[James S.]

My 70 LT1 has all 69 date codes on engine and chassis. Door decal is Jan 70. I'm looking at Paragon and should I use the 1-Q-69 wires or the 1-Q-70 or 3-Q-70. Thanks.

[Mike E.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

3-Q-70. The others are too late and too early.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

My 70 LT1 has all 69 date codes on engine and chassis. Door decal is Jan 70. I'm looking at Paragon and should I use the 1-Q-69 wires or the 1-Q-70 or 3-Q-70. Thanks.

Door decal only tells us the month. We need to know the exact date from the Trim Tag. And I am going to disagree with my good friend Mike Ernst.

My A29 (January 29) built small block has as follows:

1 dated 3-Q-69
6 wires dated 4Q-69
2 dated 1Q-70

9 wires because of the coil to distributor wire. And yes, that is exactly how they are hyphenated. You are between a rock and a hard place because ALL the reproduction wires are dated in odd quarters. When we see even numbered quarters on the judging field we just smile -- except for those clever people who date their own solid core wires, but we know who most of them are too. :-)

[Mike E.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

Terry,
Brain cramp here. 3-Q-69 would be the best repro, wouldn't it? My white 71 LT-1 was dirty with no history when I got it. I assumed 130k miles until I saw the 4-Q-70 wires (3) and realized it was a 30k mile car.

[Edward C.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

As for repros you have a choice of either the 3-Q-69 (third quarter of 69 which would be July thru Sept 69) or 1-Q-70 (first quarter 1970 which would encompass Jan thru March 1970).

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

3-Q-70. The others are too late and too early.

Really Mike? 3-Q-70? Fat fingers last night?

Terry,
Brain cramp here. 3-Q-69 would be the best repro, wouldn't it? My white 71 LT-1 was dirty with no history when I got it. I assumed 130k miles until I saw the 4-Q-70 wires (3) and realized it was a 30k mile car.

3-Q-69 probably is his best and only option, unless his car is late in the month of January like mine (why I asked him to be more specific on the body build date. We are to some extent shooting in the dark here, yet Brian wants precision not horseshoes and hand grenades.) and he is willing to buy two sets of reproduction wires (3-Q-69 and 1Q-70) and mix them up. That way he will have a spare set for when the first ones fail.

When I see all the wires dated the same odd numbered date they just shout reproduction at me. Just like when I see all the intake manifold fastener headmarks the same, or all parts of the carburetor the same shade of gold.

[James S.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

I've got a pic of the trim tag but don't know how to post it.

[James S.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

Terry mine is a A22

[James S.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

So what you are saying Terry I need to buy 3 sets of wires to make up different dates to make it correct? At 75 dollars that can get pricey.

[James S.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

Note this is my first NCRS build. My car is matching numbers and I have the dealer invoice and some of the tank sticker. Just trying to make it right. I've completed the chassis and drive train and repaired the upper windshield frame. I'm at the point I want to start the engine to make sure of no gremlins before I head to the body that's still has original paint and has never been wrecked. I noted where Terry was talking about the manifold bolts but the judging book dictates M headed bolts and that's what was on it and I re-used them. The only things on the engine incorrect is the alternator I need a date coded 61 amp case and the starter. But these can wait till later.

[Patrick H.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

So what you are saying Terry I need to buy 3 sets of wires to make up different dates to make it correct? At 75 dollars that can get pricey.

James,

Not sure where you get the idea you need 3 sets.
All that is available are the 3rd quarter of 1969 and the 1st quarter of 1970. You can buy just a 3rd quarter of 1969 set and be done if you wish. Otherwise, for variety, buy a 3rd quarter 1969 set plus a 1st quarter 1970 set, then mix-and-match them to make a "more correctly dated" set, since rarely if ever was a car built with only one date on the wires.

You can probably sell the mixed dated set you have leftover, with the 69/70 dates, to someone else wanting to do the same. Or, as mentioned, keep them as spares.

Patrick

[Michael W.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

Terry mine is a A22

That's January 22nd.

[James S.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

Thanks Patrick that's what I'll do then.

[William C.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

OK just to inject a little sanity into this, the dates in the wires represent the date (by Quarter) the CABLE was manufactured, not the date the sparkplug individual wire was assembled. To make it more confusing, the individual wire for one cylinder was then shipped in bulk to the point of installation of the wires. There was NO mandatory control in the area that cut the wires and assembled the terminals and boots. That is why the judging system allows a fairly wide tolerance for sparkplug wire dates. It's not really something to obsess over.

[Michael W.]

Re: 70 LT1 correct date code plug wires.

It's not really something to obsess over.

Especially when there is no practical way to replicate what a car might have originally had with wires with two subsequent quarters instead of the telltale odd quarters only.