Wiring

[vintagestang]

How do I wire an engine? and what do I use for spark plug boots? What about fuel line?

[SuperStockAndy]

Well, to give you what could be a very long answer into a brief summary...

You can use just about anything for spark plug wire. Just DON'T use thread, it looks tacky. For plug boots, you could use insulation off a bigger wire. Fuel lines, small metal rod.

Here's a site I highly recommend for detailing:

http://www.straightlinemodeler.org/tips.htm

[Ramfins59]

I know that some guys might disagree with this, but, IMHO for your first few tries I would recommend that you pick up some pre-wired distributors available from an aftermarket supplier. Drill a hole in the engine where the distributor is located and glue in the trimmed stem of the pre-wired distributor.

Then drill holes in the cylinder heads where the spark plugs would be located. You can strip the insulation from wire that is a size larger than the spark plug wire, cut a short length for the wire boot and insert the spark plug wire thru the boot leaving just enough wire sticking thru to glue into the hole you drilled in the cylinder heads. After the glue has set, try to drape the wires realistically over the valve covers. Look under the hood of your own car to see how the plug wires lay.

For fuel lines in the engine compartment I use Radio Shack diodes which you can pick up at Radio Shack, getting a bunch in a package for a couple of bucks. The diode will look like an inline fuel filter. Drill a hole in the fuel pump and the fuel bowl on the carburator and bend and shape the diode wire to run from the pump to the carb. For older cars you can leave the diode as is, and for newer cars you can paint the diode with aluminum metalizer for a more modern look.

Hope this helps you.

[Kris Morgan]

You can pick up prewired distributors here www.madmodeling.com They come with cap and, wire color choices as well as boot material. There is a solid wire running through the boot material which is removed once you cut the boots to length. That solid wire may be used as fuel line.

[crazyjim]

I've been using the Fatkidd method of making distributors - gluing telephone wire insulation to Evergreen rod. Then use ignition wire and looms from Scale Dreams. The insulation is also used as boots on both ends of the ignition wire.

I use all kinds of different stuff for fuel lines - fishing line, hardline from Scale Dreams, beading wire from Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, paper clips, and more.

[FASTBACK340]

Andy.... THANKS for posting the tech section from Straight Line Modelers! Awesome stuff in there, especially the step-by-step how-to on making wire wheels.

Awesome stuff. I have to check out their site!