Distributor wire

[ProStr33t]

Hello guys.. Sorry to ask a question that is probably so common.. I was wondering where you guys get the wire for your distributors on the 1:25 models.. also... I tried to wire one earlie.. wired up the plugs first but when I tried to bend them over to the dist, they fell off... what is the trick?

[crazyjim]

My way of doing it -

polish 3/16" aluminum tubing, polish it, cut a piece 1/2" long

polish 1/8" aluminum tubing, polish it, cut a piece 1/4" long

super glue pieces together with about 1/8" tubing about 1/8" down the 3/16" tubing

these pieces will make the distributor

order ignition wire from Scale Dreams or Model Car Garage

order wire looms from one of the above

epoxy ignition wires into distributor

drill holes in block (I think it's a #69 drill bit)

open telephone wire to expose 4 wires (black, green, red. yellow)

strip colored coating from copper wire

insert telephone coating into holes drilled in block & cut to appropriate length. These will represent spark plug boots

insert ignition wires through wire looms and into the spark plug boots

Done

Other people seem to go from the block back to the distributor but that doesn't make sense to me. Using tthe aluminum tubing is about the same as buying pre-wired distributors but at a fraction of the cost.

[dwc43]

Order one of these wired dist. first. http://www.scalemodelingbychris.com/mad_distributors.htm

Then cut the black insulation to use as a spark plug boot and glue it on the ends of the wire. Drill a hole in the block for each plug wire and glue the black boots into the holes.

[Bernard Kron]

Order one of these wired dist. first. http://www.scalemodelingbychris.com/mad_distributors.htm

Then cut the black insulation to use as a spark plug boot and glue it on the ends of the wire. Drill a hole in the block for each plug wire and glue the black boots into the holes.

Those are the Morgan Auto Detail (M.A.D.) distributors and they are very nice. They come in a large variety of wire colors and are unique in offering a large selection of distributor cap colors as well. They save a lot of hastle because they are pre-wired at the distributor end and they also have a superbly detailed distributor cap and base. One trick I have found for making spark plug boots and/or distributor boots is to take the black boot wire that comes with the set and, after having removed the wire core leaving the black tubing hollow, stick the spark plug wire into the tubing a short ways, then cut the tubing to the length you desire and slide the "boot" you just made further down on the spark plug wire. Now it's ready to slide back into position at the engine end or the distributor end depending on whether you've made a spark plug boot or a distributor book. For both slide two separate pieces of tubing on to the spark plug wire. Then glue the ends of the wires into the holes you've drilled and slide the boot into position onto the glued area. If you leave any spark plug wire in the boot tubing after you make the cut, just take the next spark plug wire and poke it into the other end of the tubing until any residue comes out the opposite end.

If you are wiring using a kit distributor or scratch building your own distributor you may have to use loose wire and drill your own holes. The spark plug boot trick still works but you'll have to determine the size wire to use. If I recall correctly coated wire with an overall diameter in the .016-.024 inch range is pretty convincing. Raul Perez has recommended Train Control Systems ( http://www.tcsdcc.com/Zen/index.php?main_p...amp;cPath=29_27 ) as a cheap source of colored coated wire in fine gauges. I believe 32 gauge wire is what is commonly used for spark plug wire.

Critical tools for this kind of detailing include:

A micrometer for measuring the thickness of things like wire, mounting pins, etc.

A set of wire gauge drill bits for making the corresponding holes.

A pinvise for the drill bits.

A good set of small round nose pliers to shape bends in the wire.

I hope some of this helps.

[CAL]

I make up dist kind of like Crazy Jim and use 30 gauge wrapping hook up wire.

I press a alum. tube (don't know the size off hand) into a smaller tube with wire between the larger and smaller tubes, just like the common pre-wired dist come.

It's quick easy and conviencing.

Edited August 24, 2009 by CAL

[crazyjim]

I've tried super glue on ignition wires and it turns the wires white. I switched to epoxy.

[crazyjim]

I did a search at Radio Shacks website and found 30ga wrapping wire but they have ony blue, red, and white. I need more colors than that.

[Eshaver]

I have put this out before but I shall do it again ............ GO TO RADIO SHACK , BUY THEIR TRANSFORMER WIRE PACK -IN GOLD ( THICK ) , RED (MEDIUM ) , AND GREEN , VERY FINE NOW WIRE MOTORS OR GAS TANKS OR BRAKES OR WHAtever !!!!!!!!!!!!! Ed Shaver

[samm1970]

Like Dave and many others, I use the Radio Shack wrapping wire.It does come in only 3 colors, but the colors really work well for me.Most of my builds are race or performance oriented so the colors are fine w/ me.

The red is good for MSD Pro type race plug wires, the blue is a pretty good match for Moroso Blue Max plug wires, and the white can be painted fairly easily to match any color you wish.

My method for painting the wire is fairly simple.I just cut about 1/3 more than I need, glue each end w/ a drop of super glue to a wooden skewer,put one skewer in a bench vise and put the other in a small portable vise and pull the wire nice and taught.I then just fog the wire w/ the desired color from a rattle can.It doesn't take much paint at all, too much paint and it looks too thick.The paint is fairly flexible and I have'nt had any problems w/ it coming off or cracking, I've used both enamel and Laquers.

Just my 2 cents,

Sam