Post by skidsolo on Aug 4, 2007 12:15:11 GMT -5
Nothing makes a bigger under hood impact on a model car than wiring the distributor, coil and plugs. This simple job really makes an engine 'pop'
It is perfectly possible to buy aftermarket pre-wired distributors and take the shortcut. Nothing wrong with that approach at all but I find it much more satisfying to make my own. It is not a difficult job but will take a little patience.
Follow along while I show you how:
TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED.
1. Exacto knife with No 11 blade.
2. Quick set epoxy glue.
3. Pin drill.
4. Tweezers.
5. Scissors.
6. 1mm and 2.5mm drill bits.
7. A thingytail or kebab stick.
8. Coloured and coated solid centre wire. (Colour of your own choice.) One length for each cylinder plus another for the coil.
9. Some small bore tubing.
10. And of course a distributor.
First clean up the distributor as per normal. Then with the Exacto knife cut away the centre 'pip'.
Now, using the 1mm drill bit, drill a shallow hole where the centre 'pip' used to be. This will help locate the larger drill and prevent it from 'running off'.
Next drill out this hole with the 2.5mm drill, making sure you leave the outside ring of 'pips' in place and undamaged. Depending on the size of the distributor you may need to adjust the size of the drill bit. Make the hole approx 2mm deep but be careful not to drill right through the distributor cap. Drill a small amount at a time and check the depth frequently.
Now paint the distributor in your chosen colour.
Mix up a little of the quick setting epoxy and with the thingytail/kebab stick 2/3 fill the hole in the distributor cap.
Bunch up all of the wires, making sure they are all even at one end. Now insert this end of the bunch into the epoxied hole in the distributor and hold in place for approx three minutes or until you can remove your fingers without disturbing the wires. Leave to fully cure overnight.
Now glue the wired distributor to the engine and again leave overnight to fully cure.
Next drill the cylinder head/s with a drill just a tad larger than the small bore tubing.
This link may help you locate the correct position for plug holes on American V8 engines.
modeltech.tripod.com/wiring103.htm
Glue a very short length of the small bore tubing into each of the cylinder head plug holes. These will represent the plug boots.
The next thing to do is take a good look at the route the HT leads are going to take to each plug boot. This is where good reference photos really pay off. If you really want to be pedantic and get the firing order right too, you might find this link useful. modeltech.tripod.com/wiring101.htm
When all of the glue has fully cured ( I normally leave it for two or three days to be sure ) run a wire from the distributor to the first cylinder via your chosen route and insert into the plug boot. I find the tweezers invaluable for this part of the operation. Depending on the bore and plug wire size you may or may not need to glue the HT lead into the plug boot.
Continue to do this for all cylinders.
When you have all the plug leads installed, try to 'drape' them in a natural looking manner. (Hence the solid core wire as it will stay in the position in which it is placed) Again good reference photos are invaluable here.
Finally, do exactly the same for the coil, having drilled the end of the coil to accept the HT wire first.
If the coil is engine mounted then you can do this as soon as you have finished the plug leads. However, if it is bulkhead/firewall mounted leave it until the chassis and engine have been installed into the body.
So there you have it. Easy really. I hope you have enjoyed following along and maybe become inspired to try it for yourself.
Good luck and be patient. :wink:
It is perfectly possible to buy aftermarket pre-wired distributors and take the shortcut. Nothing wrong with that approach at all but I find it much more satisfying to make my own. It is not a difficult job but will take a little patience.
Follow along while I show you how:
TOOLS AND MATERIALS REQUIRED.
1. Exacto knife with No 11 blade.
2. Quick set epoxy glue.
3. Pin drill.
4. Tweezers.
5. Scissors.
6. 1mm and 2.5mm drill bits.
7. A thingytail or kebab stick.
8. Coloured and coated solid centre wire. (Colour of your own choice.) One length for each cylinder plus another for the coil.
9. Some small bore tubing.
10. And of course a distributor.
First clean up the distributor as per normal. Then with the Exacto knife cut away the centre 'pip'.
Now, using the 1mm drill bit, drill a shallow hole where the centre 'pip' used to be. This will help locate the larger drill and prevent it from 'running off'.
Next drill out this hole with the 2.5mm drill, making sure you leave the outside ring of 'pips' in place and undamaged. Depending on the size of the distributor you may need to adjust the size of the drill bit. Make the hole approx 2mm deep but be careful not to drill right through the distributor cap. Drill a small amount at a time and check the depth frequently.
Now paint the distributor in your chosen colour.
Mix up a little of the quick setting epoxy and with the thingytail/kebab stick 2/3 fill the hole in the distributor cap.
Bunch up all of the wires, making sure they are all even at one end. Now insert this end of the bunch into the epoxied hole in the distributor and hold in place for approx three minutes or until you can remove your fingers without disturbing the wires. Leave to fully cure overnight.
Now glue the wired distributor to the engine and again leave overnight to fully cure.
Next drill the cylinder head/s with a drill just a tad larger than the small bore tubing.
This link may help you locate the correct position for plug holes on American V8 engines.
modeltech.tripod.com/wiring103.htm
Glue a very short length of the small bore tubing into each of the cylinder head plug holes. These will represent the plug boots.
The next thing to do is take a good look at the route the HT leads are going to take to each plug boot. This is where good reference photos really pay off. If you really want to be pedantic and get the firing order right too, you might find this link useful. modeltech.tripod.com/wiring101.htm
When all of the glue has fully cured ( I normally leave it for two or three days to be sure ) run a wire from the distributor to the first cylinder via your chosen route and insert into the plug boot. I find the tweezers invaluable for this part of the operation. Depending on the bore and plug wire size you may or may not need to glue the HT lead into the plug boot.
Continue to do this for all cylinders.
When you have all the plug leads installed, try to 'drape' them in a natural looking manner. (Hence the solid core wire as it will stay in the position in which it is placed) Again good reference photos are invaluable here.
Finally, do exactly the same for the coil, having drilled the end of the coil to accept the HT wire first.
If the coil is engine mounted then you can do this as soon as you have finished the plug leads. However, if it is bulkhead/firewall mounted leave it until the chassis and engine have been installed into the body.
So there you have it. Easy really. I hope you have enjoyed following along and maybe become inspired to try it for yourself.
Good luck and be patient. :wink:
