SX Spark Plug Wire Boots @ Distributor Cap

[Bob Gaines]

Here is a early 65 that has radio resistance wires. you might have to save and then blow it up to see the long words (radio resistance) on the wires.

Here is a late one with a black intake with radio resistance.

[Bob Gaines]

Here is a late one with a black intake with radio resistance.

Here is another different engine aug of 1965 hot rod. you can see the writting between the monte carlo bar and the valve cover clip on the passenger side.

[Bob Gaines]

Here is another different engine aug of 1965 hot rod. you can see the writting between the monte carlo bar and the valve cover clip on the passenger side.

Here are some outtakes from hot rod circa 1965 .They are of a different engine because hoses and wires are run different.

[Bob Gaines]

Here are some outtakes from hot rod circa 1965 .They are of a different engine because hoses and wires are run different.

I have a number of others but I really am at a loss because I could have sworn I had at least one that showed the SX marked wire  but all I can find are the radio resistance ones. These are all 65 vintage pictures. I don't think Bob Mannels book is applicable here for what ever reason. I use Bob Mannels book as referance often and think it is excellent however as the proof verifies, there are radio resistance wires on 65 GT350's. The fact that these are seen on early and late engines with examples from a number of DIFFERENT engines within the same production year would logically indicate that it was not a anomaly but a relatively standardized practice amongst the GT350 hipo engines at least. SX wire isn't the only wire that came on 65 hipos .

[Bob Gaines]

What the heck here are a couple more from CARS magazine July 65. when you compare little things like the coil rotation , hoses etc. you can determine they are pics of different engines.  I think you can come to a safe conclusion that there is evidence (overwhelming?) for radio resistance wires in 65 GT350 production. I had to take these with my phone because may scanner died on me.

[Dmxf]

On coil spring Cobras, the more rounded top distributor cap boot is always associated with radio resistance wires. If that relationship is also consistent with small block engines, that may be one additional way to differentiate steel core/RR in photos and may also answer the initial question in this post.

[caspian65]

On coil spring Cobras, the more rounded top distributor cap boot is always associated with radio resistance wires. If that relationship is also consistent with small block engines, that may be one additional way to differentiate steel core/RR in photos and may also answer the initial question in this post.

There were round boot SX wires.

[A-Snake]

I have a number of others but I really am at a loss because I could have sworn I had at least one that showed the SX marked wire  but all I can find are the radio resistance ones. These are all 65 vintage pictures. I don't think Bob Mannels book is applicable here for what ever reason. I use Bob Mannels book as referance often and think it is excellent however as the proof verifies, there are radio resistance wires on 65 GT350's. The fact that these are seen on early and late engines with examples from a number of DIFFERENT engines within the same production year would logically indicate that it was not a anomaly but a relatively standardized practice amongst the GT350 hipo engines at least. SX wire isn't the only wire that came on 65 hipos .

I am wondering if the review of wires used in '65 should be of HiPo's in Mustangs, not just GT350's. I would think that wires were not changed for cars becoming GT350's. Make sense?

[5S520]

 Bob,

 If they didn't use steel core wires on Shelbys are you saying that hipo 289 mustangs
 didn't come with SX wires. Why does the parts book list a different part number for
 hipo wire sets ?

 As far as the boots I think the correct boot has the words FOMOCO in script and inside
 an oval.

 Dave

[GT350Shelb]

the originals from 5s545 are not sx wires

[Bob Gaines]

 Bob,

 If they didn't use steel core wires on Shelbys are you saying that hipo 289 mustangs
 didn't come with SX wires. Why does the parts book list a different part number for
 hipo wire sets ?

 As far as the boots I think the correct boot has the words FOMOCO in script and inside
 an oval.

 Dave

Dave certainly not. I am not addressing 289 HP in general. Like I mentioned before I was of the camp that felt that the SX wire was the only alternative for the GT350 like Jim C. until recently.  I seriously thought I had vintage photo evidence of SX wires on a GT350 (still think I do somewhere) but in the search realized a different relationship.  I do not have a explanation why so many vintage photo examples of GT350's show up with the radio resistance wire . You were someone I was going to ask what they had on their car since yours is a extremely good survivor. It helps to get input from various sources whether SX or radio resistance to try and formulate a pattern. I can only assume there is both out there. My concern (not that this is reference to your car) is that over the years original wires my have been replaced for SX ones on many cars that originally had radio resistance ones because of the previously accepted notion that only SX wires were correct for GT350's. One thing seems to be evident is that SX wires were not the only type wire on GT350's.

[GT350Shelb]

It is possible due to the parts book listing sx wires as correct ones they may have been installed by previous owners who went to their ford dealer and ordered them.

 

[A-Snake]

Dave certainly not. I am not addressing 289 HP in general. Like I mentioned before I was of the camp that felt that the SX wire was the only alternative for the GT350 like Jim C. until recently.  I seriously thought I had vintage photo evidence of SX wires on a GT350 (still think I do somewhere) but in the search realized a different relationship.  I do not have a explanation why so many vintage photo examples of GT350's show up with the radio resistance wire . You were someone I was going to ask what they had on their car since yours is a extremely good survivor. It helps to get input from various sources whether SX or radio resistance to try and formulate a pattern. I can only assume there is both out there. My concern (not that this is reference to your car) is that over the years original wires my have been replaced for SX ones on many cars that originally had radio resistance ones because of the previously accepted notion that only SX wires were correct for GT350's. One thing seems to be evident is that SX wires were not the only type wire on GT350's.

Bob,
If we assume the premise of SX and RR wires were on '65 GT350's, doesn't that mean that the same would be true for HiPo Mustangs? Is there any evidence that wires were changed at SA or at Ford for SA?

[Bob Gaines]

Bob,
If we assume the premise of SX and RR wires were on '65 GT350's, doesn't that mean that the same would be true for HiPo Mustangs? Is there any evidence that wires were changed at SA or at Ford for SA?

Jim ,that seems to be a reasonable assumption unless it was something that was done differently for the Shelby Build. Which wouldn't surprise me. I do not think it was something done at SA .No photo outtakes that i have seen that would account for it.I haven't seen any special RPO that would explain things.  I do think it was something that was done at Ford during engine modifications based on other things that were done. I wouldn't think it was something that was done in the beginning but most likely changed over time . Just a Theory based on other things that changed during production to accommodate SA.  Just my opinions based on what I have seen. Others may have more insight. 

[J_Speegle]

It is possible due to the parts book listing sx wires as correct ones they may have been installed by previous owners who went to their ford dealer and ordered them.

We also have to be careful IMHO about using parts books as reference point since they often did not reflect what was originally on the car but instead what was carried/produced at the time of printing that would work or was recommended.  Just a thought to consider.

I think we could (as mentioned) at least look at San Jose produced hipo's from the time period when Shelbys were being produced as data points then consider (exclude or include) the findings. 1967 I would guess though this discussion seems to have expanded outside of the original question. In any case not allot of those untouched 67 K codes out there though