283 w/HEI - what plug wires are long enough?

Guys,

I've been swapping the original distributor out of my 283 and dropping in an HEI unit. When I went after plug wires, they sold me a set of 8mm Accel's that BARELY plugged on while streching across the rams horn ezzost manifold. I went after longer ones and they sold me regular ones for a 1975 Chevy truck with a big block - with the straight plug boots - and THOSE weren't even long enough either.

It's mostly the shorty's on the back 2 or 4 cylinders that aren't making it. The front 4 seem to be plenty long enough.

One time at band camp I switched a 250 straight 6 to HEI and wound up having to make my own. I didn't care for that too aweful much and would really just like to buy a set that just plugs on.

This CAN'T be rocket science and I don't have any radical plans for the 283. Just a small 4 barrel, HEI, and maybe a 350 cam. I pretty much don't care if they are 7mm or 8mm or even what the hell color they are - I just wanna roll. I was due at the upholstry shop TONIGHT and obviously didn't make it.

So if anybody could shoot me a part number of a set I could get over the counter someplace that is long enough to deal with the rams horns - I would REALLY appreciate it.

Peace and thank you,
John

 

Try ordering for a 1976 SBC vette. Probably have to pay extra cause it's a vette but they had rams and HEI.

 

Try a set made for a '76 350 truck,that go under the rams horns. with 90 deg. plug boots. Sparky

 

I'd go with the vette wires, they're really long to go down by the back of the heads, then along the oil pan rail. Vettes from 1975 to about 1990? had rams horns and big cap HEIs

 

I just replaced wires on my 1993 pickup (2 wd, 350) and they were a little too long, I had to do a little constructive looping behind dist. <grin>

 

Sparky, the 76 truck didn't use ramhorns, it used low mount manifolds with plug wires coming down from above.

John, I just did this yesterday in my 64 Suburban. I used 78 Vette wires. The Vette had HEI and ramhorn manifolds. I got them off the shelf at Autozone, and surprisingly, the 19 dollar AutoZone wires fit nicer than most of the 50 dollar Delco wires I've ever used.

Try it, you'll be happy.

 

Thanks guys, the vette wires did the trick, and actually were a little long as predicted. The only problem was that my local AZ said they would have to order them and I wound up dropping $40 on a set of 8mm shiney blue ones from a NAPA. UNfortunately, Im having other problems now - but at least I have wires.

Thanks a ton guys,

John

 

I was having just this problem! And now I know what to do. Sweet.

 

some good info here. thanks