I have a '39 coupe that has been street rodded to the '50s style. It has a 59AB engine with a Mallory electronic distributor (no power box), wire looms and plug wires labeled "Autolite Powerseal Electronic Supression w/ 7.5 mm Insulast Jacket". It has been running a little rough lately, so I checked each cylinder by removing each plug wire individually while the engine was running. I noticed no change when I removed 3 of the plug wires, which seems inconsisted with the degree of roughness that I was experiencing. I then checked the resistance of each of the wires and found that only one was open (on one of the no change cylinders); the other read in the 15k to 30k range. Also when I checked under the hood at night (engine running), I saw no arcing. What is going on? Since these wires are not made anymore, what should I use (these have a carbon-based center)? What is the feeling about looms...I do like the look (I can't even move the wires in the ones that I have)?
The Jalopy Journal
