spark plug wire set

have a 59 chrysler saratoga, engine was apart when i recieved it, getting close to start up, i need a set of spark plug wires, the engine is a raised block 383, valley is wider than most 383's (A 440 manifold can fit on it). anybody have any suggestions and or part numbers, or a web site that shows the different lenghts that the sets have...................thanks jp

You may have a 413 engine. It was a raised block engine. The 383 was not. You should be able to get wires from any of the local auto parts stores. NAPA, Advance, Auto Zone, etc On the right side of the block you will find the casting numbers . Post the numbers, and I'll look them up to tell you what engine you have! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

thanks for the response, but during 1959 to 1961 chrysler made a 383 rb engine, theres a few sites on the internet that talk about this rarity, i was just thinking that because of the 10 1/2 valley, that a wire set for a 440 would work, a 413 might work but i dont know how wide its valley or engine is.....thanks jp

Yes, there were RB 383s for a few years. Same block dimensions as 413s and the later 426 Street Wedge and 440s. Key thing in any of those wire sets is the way they were routed and how they might have had standoffs on the valve covers for the wires (and the plastic snap-on insulators), plus the mix of straight boots and 90 degree boots.

In the old days, the major spark plug wire vendors had the individual dimensions of the wires that made up certain wire sets in the back of their catalogs. Finding that information now is pretty much impossible unless you can find an old auto supply that still has some of those old books from the early '70s or so. BUT, if you can find some sales brochure pictures of the engine of that year, it's pretty simple to determine what wires were what (as to routing and configuration) plus the Chrysler service manuals usually had some pretty good pictures back then too.

Also be advised, what might be in the current wire set catalogs will be much more universal than what the earlier verions would have been. It's called part number consolidation as the parts age and fewer are sold. Not to mention one major vendor buying out another major vendor for market share and the resulting consolidation of parts.

Preterminated wires are best. I like the magnetic suppression Borg Warner wiresets. They used to be Kool Wire and Kool Wire II, but are now "Select" or similar. You might check out their website for information and possibly an online catalog.

The other alternative would be go get into the restoration parts side of things. I suspect those people will have more correct items, but higher priced and typically the earlier carbon core wires. Look in the Mopar magazines for vendors that might specialize in the earlier '60s Chrysler items (Mopar Muscle, Mopar Action, Mopar Collectors Guide). They can usually supply date coded wires too, if that matters. Might check with the Chrysler 300 club people and vendors too.

Enjoy!

NTX5467