427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

[Floyd B.]

Would someone please post a picture that shows the details of original plastic ignition wire retainers? Here is a picture of a replacement just to illustrate what I'm talking about.

My car is an early production (10/4/68) '69 L36 if that matters.

Rear Supports.jpg

[Douglas P.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

Would someone please post a picture that shows the details of original plastic ignition wire retainers? ... My car is an early production (10/4/68) '69 L36 if that matters.

Floyd,

The large/rear supports pictured in the photo you posted look to be correct based on what I found on my car (my car, L71, was built 2 days before yours). See attached photo of the supports removed from my car. I believe that one of my small/foward supports is a replacement based on it's shape (in photo, lower right)--I included it for reference, perhaps someone can confirm if it is a replacement or original?

1969BigBlockIgnitionWireSupport.jpg

Doug

[David L.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

Floyd,

Enclosed is a photo from the web of a NOS 2977555 retainer. The 1969 AIM shows the 2977555 retainer on UPC L36, sheet A6. GM # 2977555 is also listed in my 1969 Chev. Parts Catalog (Oct. 1968) in Gr. 2.251 for 65-69 Chevrolet and Corvettes w/396/427 engines. The 1965 AIM also lists the 2977555 retainer for the 396 engine (UPC L78, sheet B3) but there is also a reference to the revision box for that part number which I can not read on my AIM because of poor reprinting.

Paragon has a reproduction 2977555 retainer (Paragon # 1843) that looks like the ones in your photo for 65-66 BB Corvettes . What is the GM part number on the GM box?

Dave

[David L.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

GM retainer # 2965950 was used on the 1965 Chevelle 396 engine (L37) as shown in the 1965 Chevelle AIM. Retainer #2965950 (box label #11 in the AIM) clearly looks the same as the NOS 2965950 retainer (photo from the web).
GM # 2965950 appears in my 1969 Chevrolet parts catalogs as a service part for 64-68 Corvettes but I can not find it in any of my Corvette assembly manuals.

Dave

[Floyd B.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

Thank you gentlemen. This information and pix is exactly what I needed. I found a nice pair of the rearward wide retainers. I will now look for a pair of small forward. Hopefully I'll score at Carlisle in a few weeks.

[David L.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

Floyd,

The 4-wire retainer (GM # 2977555) which measures 1.9" in width was commonly used on many Chevrolet models back in the day. I have 4 of them that I found on various 1969 and 1970 Chevrolet models with 307 & 350 engines in the salvage yards that I need for my 1970 Camaro SS350 project.

The 2-wire retainer (GM # 2977995) does not appear to ever sold over the counter as per my many vintage Chevrolet parts catalogs although reproductions are available.

The real wide "3 + 1" wire 2965950 retainer (with the space between the last wire) appears to be a service replacement for Corvettes.

Dave

[Floyd B.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

Thanx Dave,

Do you have a picture of the 2-wire retainer (GM # 2977995)?

Thanx

[David L.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

Floyd,

Just Google "2977995 retainer" on the web or see the link below. I try to avoid reproduction parts but in this case the reproduction 2977995 retainer looks quite good and the price is right.

Dave

https://www.classicmuscle.com/p-40899-2-wire-retainer-on-valve-cover-lhrh.aspx

[David L.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

Floyd,

While working on my S10 today I came across some similar aftermarket spark plug wire retainers (4-wire and 3-wire) that I must have bought at a swap meet many years ago. The 2.2" wide aftermarket 4-wire retainers with 4 very small holes are a bit wider and have
"8 MM" and "P.E.D" molded into the plastic. The 3-wire aftermarket retainers are 1.9" wide.

Dave

[Floyd B.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

The real wide "3 + 1" wire 2965950 retainer (with the space between the last wire) appears to be a service replacement for Corvettes.

Interesting though, when I look at the AIM, pg 440, U69, Sheet A7, the drawing of the passenger side rearward retainer near the shielding box looks like the 3+1 wide version. It clearly depicts the three forward wires grouped together and a distinct space separating the rearward most wire from the others. This would lead me to believe that use of the 3+1 retainer was expected at the time the drawing was created

[David L.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

Interesting though, when I look at the AIM, pg 440, U69, Sheet A7, the drawing of the passenger side rearward retainer near the shielding box looks like the 3+1 wide version. It clearly depicts the three forward wires grouped together and a distinct space separating the rearward most wire from the others. This would lead me to believe that use of the 3+1 retainer was expected at the time the drawing was created

Floyd,

I have to agree with you that on UPC U69, sheet A7, in the 1969 Corvette AIM the retainer certainly appears to be the 3+1 type but no part number is listed.

My 1965 and 1966 Chev. Passenger AIM's both show the 3+1 retainer as part number 2965950 (UPC L35, sheet 7 in the 1965 Pass. AIM and UPC L35 L36, sheet A7 in the 1966 Pass. AIM) just like the 1965 Chevelle AIM (UPC L37, sheet 7).

Dave

[John H.]

Re: 427 Ignition Wire Support - Need Pic

While working on my S10 today I came across some similar aftermarket spark plug wire retainers (4-wire and 3-wire) that I must have bought at a swap meet many years ago. The 2.2" wide aftermarket 4-wire retainers with 4 very small holes are a bit wider and have
"8 MM" and "P.E.D" molded into the plastic.

Dave -

The "P.E.D." is for Packard Electric Division, who supplied all of GM's wiring harnesses and routing/clipping devices.