Spark plug wires - Fairlane vs. T-Bird

[smtichy]

Quick question, does anyone know if there is a difference between the spark plug wires for the 292 V8 in a '55 Fairlane vs. '55 T-bird?

I was looking to order an Authentic reproduction set of spark plug wires for my '55 Fairlane - 292 V8. I see that CASCO parts has a full kit, including grommets, and all assembled, but they market specifically for the "baby birds". The diagrams in the catalog look exactly like what is in my Fairlane, but I called the CASCO Part tech department and they said they couldn't say if their T-bird kit was the same as for Fairlanes.

I looked on Mac's and they have different catalog p/n's for the models, but the underlying Ford code is the same.

Any tips from someone with experience on this is welcome.

[dmsfrr]

How about a semi-informed guess?

Since the engines are nearly identical they could be the same, but I'm not positive.
It's possible that the wires going to cylinders #5, 6, 7, 8 (the other side of the engine from the distributor) are very slightly longer on the Thunderbird's. To provide a bit of extra clearance...
1. around the road-draft tube from the top rear of the valley-pan, and
2. under the (slightly different, T-bird only) driver's side exhaust manifold.
The difference could be a matter of only an extra couple inches?
.

[smtichy]

Thanks "dmsfrr" What you write makes sense, and considering how tight the existing wires are wrapped around my 292, I can't image them being anything other than longer.

[54vicky]

just to add to your question I dug though some of my books.found a FoMoCo quick reference catalog titled fast moving parts.lists part number C2AZ 12259A for 54-57 passenger/Tbird under engines lists all. by the C this looks to be what they used up until 1960s at least.hope this helps

[dmsfrr]

Ford used 292 y-block engines in their pickup trucks until '64. At the moment I can't imagine what significant difference there could be in the basic plug wires.
Yes there are; good, better & best types (solid wire, carbon resistor wire, not 'made in China', hi-temp insulation, etc.)
But depending on where you get them, I suspect if you ask for a nice set for a 'truck' they could cost about 10+% less than the 'T-Bird' ones.
.

[Dominic Hide]

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A set of wires tailor made for a car or truck will be a couple of inches to short for a Bird due to the tach drive distributor on the Bird being a couple of inches taller than the stock unit. Obviously the longer Bird wires will be just fine in any other application.

[dmsfrr]

Originally Posted by Dominic Hide

A set of wires tailor made for a car or truck will be a couple of inches to short for a Bird due to the tach drive distributor on the Bird being a couple of inches taller than the stock unit. Obviously the longer Bird wires will be just fine in any other application.

oops, good catch, I forgot about that.
(I haven't been working on my car enough)

[smtichy]

Thanks all ... to document the result, the pre-made wire set for a '55 T-bird, from CASCO - classic birds, fit my Fairlane perfectly.

In my search with several suppliers, the conclusion was that the majority of the "reproduction" sets offered are not differentiating between T-birds or other passenger models. Only one special note, is that I did find out is the late '57 T-birds, from June on (the last of the baby birds) had a different type of boot on the end of the wire connecting to the dizzy. The technician described them as being flatter.

Once again thanks for the info everyone