Topic: 1968 Spark Plug Wire Separators

[Sunlitgold68]

For 1968 289/302.... did all use the metal wing like attachment that bolted to the valve covers to separate the spark plug wires. I've seen some with those and some that have a plastic wire separator that pushes down onto the valve cover itself. Trying to figure out what is factory correct.

[gtamustang]

All manual transmission cars had smog in 68 as well as the 70 & 71 (maybe it's 71 & 72) DSO destined cars. All used plastic separators on both sides. The smog motors had a metal extension on the RH side so that the wires cleared the smog pump (but the plastic separator connected to the bracket).

The Manel book has great pictures of this.

[Sunlitgold68]

What finish or color would the wing like bracket have? Painted blue like the valve covers?

[CharlesTurner]

What finish or color would the wing like bracket have? Painted blue like the valve covers?

The originals I have seen were painted blue with the engine.

[J_Speegle]

Would agree that the relocation brackets were painted (as well as the attachment screws) engine color and were attached at the time of painting.

As mentioned all 68 manual transmissions would have received the Thermactor systems no matter where they were shipped in the US since all states shared the same requirements that year.  Though 69-up small block cars required some form of emissions control 68 was the last year that the Thermactor system was used on the small block classic Mustang

[DTruitt]

The external thermactor system was not used for the entire model year; it was discontinued in mid-year.  The plug wire extension bracket was discontinued with the thermactor system.  Mannels book also show two different examples of the valve covers which were used in '68.  The early version had an arm extended down the side of the cover (the welded on spark plug wiring bracket); the later version did not have the arm extending down the side of the cover.  I have seen the later style valve cover with and without the screwed on extension. 

Danny

[J_Speegle]

Don't believe that the application of the Thermactor was changed just the design was altered - Didn't want anyone to get the idea that the Thermactor was discontinued mid year

[DTruitt]

Don't believe that the application of the Thermactor was changed just the design was altered - Didn't want anyone to get the idea that the Thermactor was discontinued mid year

Page 8-43 of Mannel's Mustang and Ford Small Block V-8 is the following, "To further assist in emissions reductions on M/T equipped engines, Ford/ Mercury also incorporated a T/E system, regardless of whether the cars were built in, or intended for sale in, the State of California.  This policy continued until late into the production year, at which time the T/E system was phased out."

The T/E system was not used on late production M/T Mustangs. 

Danny     

[J_Speegle]

Page 8-43 of Mannel's Mustang and Ford Small Block V-8 is the following,...................... This policy continued until late into the production year, at which time the T/E system was phased out."

The T/E system was not used on late production M/T Mustangs. 

Ok to continue the discussion wonder what Bob believes is "later production"? Believe I should be able to find examples through the end of production to support my current belief

[TLea]

Every J code I've seen through the end of the 68 model year had TE on the manual transmission cars. There were changes made throughout the year to the system but it was always present.