carchub Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 (edited) I'll post pictures of the body soon when I get the color scheme finished, but for now I need help with wiring the engine (It'll be my first time, but I've a good plan already). So far, my plan was to use picture hanging wire (was my only quick + cheap option), "drill" the spark plug holes on the valve covers, and glue the wires through the holes. BUT: Now I can't figure out how to glue them on the Distributor Cap! Edited February 17, 2012 by carchub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DANB Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 Mate i have been looking for an answer to this question for the last few days too. Your doing well so far though! Has anybody tried using solder for the wire before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 Thanks! Solder sounds like an alright idea...careful to not break it though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob McKee Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 It's is a tough one. That is why a lot of us buy the distributers already wired. One thing you could try is to drill the center of the distributer out and put the wires into the middle with CA. I have always wanted to try making boots from slightly thicker wire and gluing the boots to the posts on the distributer. Good luck, let us know how it works out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Modlbldr Posted February 7, 2012 Share Posted February 7, 2012 I have drilled eight individual holes and I have drilled one large hole to glue all of the wires in and there isn't much difference. I always make boots of slightly larger black wire to run the wires into first. It adds a bit more realism and helps to hide the drilled hole or holes. Later- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 7, 2012 Author Share Posted February 7, 2012 Alright~Thanks for the tips guys, I'll do another week of thinking about it and go at it on the weekend. In the meantime, I'll try and get the body finished. @Rob, what exactly do you mean by CA? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 13, 2012 Author Share Posted February 13, 2012 Alright, no pictures of it yet, but I drilled the distributor cap and I'm working on the wires. But for now, I roughly have the paint scheme ready on the body, and I'm going to weather/detail it a whole bunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenb Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I'm not a cheapskate but I just can't see spending $5-10 on a pre-wired distributor when you can do it yourself. It's a little bit of a pain, but worth it. I take a flat file and file the tops of the wire posts on the distributor flat. Don't take off too much, just enough to get it flat on top. Then I take a pin and make an indentation directly in the center of all eight posts and the post for the coil wire. This is so the drill bit won't walk. I then very gently use a drill bit in a pin vise to drill out each individual one. Try to drill perfectly straight. I have good results doing it this way. Looks much more convincing than drilling the whole center out and sticking all the wires in together. You can actually do the proper firing order this way and it doesn't look like a cup that sprouted wires. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 Somebody posted here to take Evergreen round round rod and glue 8 pieces of Evergreen half round to it. After drying drill out 9 holes (one for the coil in the center). It looks good. There's also the Fatkidd way for distributors. Using telephone wire insulation. Glue 8 pieces of insulation (with the wire still inside) to Evergreen rod. Slip a piece of heat shrink tubing over the insulation. Pull out the wire and insert ignition wire. I'm going to do a photo tutorial on this method one of these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMc Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 or buy the caps with hole drilled from Norm @ R&M....3 for 5.00 or buy one wired from MAD...a half hour of my time is worth 5.00 look in the lower corner these are blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 14, 2012 Author Share Posted February 14, 2012 Thanks for the ideas and tips, guys! I tried drilling out the center...not too happy with it, so I might go with filing it as Ken suggested. I may not be able to go as far, I have a limitation with drill bits and what not, but from the beginning I knew this would only look good if every wire had it's own place. (Love that description, Ken, "a cup that sprouted wires", HA! I totally Lol'd). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 16, 2012 Author Share Posted February 16, 2012 Tiny update...did a little more weathering touches to the body, still got a long ways to go. It's starting to look pretty good though! Holes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) Worked a little on the engine, next post I'll get pics of it up. For now, I went as far as I want with the body (to be honest I'm actually waiting for some dirt out of my grandma's backyard, it is the perfect powdery-tan substance =D), until then, it'll sit. I also got to work on the bench seat: tell me what you think! Well I was just going to post in-progress pictures of the seat, but they've gone. Accidently clicked+dragged in the folder, which made copies. When I deleted the copies, so went the originals...so I only have the 'done' picture of the bench....=( Here's the seat...a couple of Q-tips, some painter's tape, and a toothpick later NO there isn't any earwax on the 'fluff'... I actually dipped them in the separated fluid of some Testor's Flat White. Edited February 19, 2012 by carchub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Man those are some bad quality pics...I'll see about getting any better ones later Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DANB Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Looks sick man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moparmagiclives Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) I'll post pictures of the body soon when I get the color scheme finished, but for now I need help with wiring the engine (It'll be my first time, but I've a good plan already). So far, my plan was to use picture hanging wire (was my only quick + cheap option), "drill" the spark plug holes on the valve covers, and glue the wires through the holes. BUT: Now I can't figure out how to glue them on the Distributor Cap! I was given the advice on this forum to go to the local electronic store( radio shack) and get some motor wrapping wire. It's about 3 bucks for 50 feet or so. I will never use anything else if I wire an engine. Looks very real and scale and stays where you put it very well. A few choices of colors. And I also drill the center out of my distributor and lay the wires over. If you want to try a cheap plug boot, try getting a cheap pair of ear bud head phones and using the black rubber wire insulation. It's a little on the big side but looks ok on the bigger valve covers of the hemis. It's hallow once the wire is pulled. Great looking coupe, very authentic. Edited February 19, 2012 by moparmagiclives Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Thank you guys! Gotta long weekend, should have some more updates tomorrow =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terror Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Love the work you've done man,very cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geetee66 Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Enjoying watching this build. Detail Master make really nice turned alloy with phtoetch distributors. A bit fiddly, but worth it. I have also used alu tube sleeved over a kit distributor. Cut the height of the kit part, cram 9 stripped wire outers into a section of tube, leaving the centre one a bit taller that the rest, whack it onto the kit part and glue it. Stuff the (trimmed to length) plug wires into the empty wire sleeves. Here's a pic of one I made: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Wow man that looks great...I was just fiddling with the whole thing I had together last night, and now I took it apart to restart. Realized I shoulda done it the right way the first time around instead of doing it three times...I'll figure it out. Plus with the battery, alternator, and coil, where do the wires go for that? I'm surprised I've gone through two quarters of Automotive class at my highschool yet I don't know where all of those things connect. Could someone help me out? =D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Not having much luck with google...Where would I connect a wire from the distributor cap to the coil? I'm not sure if a coil even came with this kit. Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but I'd really appreciate some help =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARTEMIS1759 Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 This should help. Nice build. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 20, 2012 Author Share Posted February 20, 2012 Ohh so is this the coil here? Right on top of the starter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crazyjim Posted February 20, 2012 Share Posted February 20, 2012 That's the solenoid on the starter motor you're pointing at. The coil wire comes out top center of the distributor. You could mount the coil itself on the intake manifold or on the firewall. If there isn't a coil in the kit you can easily make one from Evergreen rod or even a piece of sprue from the kit. 1:1 size is about that of a can of V8 (the kinda tomato drink) in diameter and maybe 1 1/2 " taller. Way back when it was very popular to wrap the coil with a Coors beer can - because we couldn't get Coors in the Chicago area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carchub Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Ah that makes sense! I'll totally make one out of some sprue, and most likely put it on the firewall, as I don't think I could make it look right on the manifold...another build maybe. Thanks so much Jim! Does it matter where on the firewall I put it? I'd suppose not, just more towards the bottom would be good.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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