IGNITION WIRE GROMMETS ON A LUSSO

[Steve Meltzer]

I know that on a 330 GTC, as the ignition wires exit that collecting tube mounted to the cam cover, each exit point has a grommet, presumably to protect the wire from chafing. Does the Lusso also employee such grommets?o? Mine has none. Tho' incorrect, I know that's a common oversight on other Ferraris. If the grommets are derigeuer, what size are they and where might I find them? Thanks, Steve.

[Jimmyr]

Yes grommets are used on Lussos as original. Depending on wire diameter you can usually obtain these for Ace hardware in a size that fits. If the wires are already in the tubes then installation is a little difficult. You can cut the grommet and put it around the wire then a drop of super glue on the cut grommet can work.

[Steve Meltzer]

Thanks Jimmy. In the Mishka book, it shows them both ways, but I suspected that the grommets were the way they left the factory. Thanks for giving me permission to cut those and then reglue Steve.

[Jimmyr]

Steve, if you are having trouble tucking the end of the grommet into the tube then you can also do some trimming. The larger OD of the grommet that tucks into the tube can also be cut away enough to push into the tube to make a nice exit look for the ignition wire. When Miska was writing his book I mentioned several items to him, but at the time he was just interested in telling the overall Lusso story.

[Steve Meltzer]

Jim, thanks again for your advice and great ideas! My apologies for misspelling of Miska's name. s

[Jimmyr]

Steve, since we are talking about the ignition tubes and their details, there is another item you may be interested in. In FCA judging there is another small item that could be judged on the wires. The 2 large "O" rings that should be around the ignition wires: 1, the wires as they leave the distributor cap just before the grommet at the base of the distributor, and the second just before the wires enter the tube. As you know installing these "O" rings with the wires in place could be a major and often overlooked task. As with the grommet trick, the "O" rings can be put in place much the same way. Find right size "O" ring that could fit around the wires, cut the "O" ring and apply a small drop of super glue to the cut ends and place it around the wires holding the ends together until the glue sets. Presto, no deductions for missing "O" rings!

[Steve Meltzer]

I need to check about the "O" rings on the Lusso and my GTC...."first world problem"! thanx again. s

[John Vardanian]

Don't forget the metal hoop first, then the two o-rings.

[Steve Meltzer]

Thanks so much for the information guys. Here's a shot of the grommets on the wires using the "Myr" technique. Here's a shot of the wires as they exit the distributor, There's one O-ring, near the tube that feeds the bank. Is there supposed to be an O-ring in front of the metal guide or within the metal guide or exactly what? thanks Steve

[chris]

Hi Steve,

the metal guide is supposed to have a rubber grommet inserted. You will find it for example at Kilimanjaro.

Cheers
Christopher

[Steve Meltzer]

Thanks guys for all the information, tips, and advice. As previously posted, I got the grommets on the ignition wires in situ.I also managed to get the gtommet inside the wire guide that is attached to the distributor housing. I was absolutely outraged at the price that Kilimanjaro was charging for that grommet. I believe it was $15 and of course I needed two and they wanted $18 for shipping. The last two items I purchased from them were of a very poor quality and in fact, unusable. So, I was in no hurry to tryy my hand with them again. However, Bill Young at GT Car Parts had the grommets for much, much less and half the shipping charges. He's always been a reliable source. By the way, if you order anything from Bill, tell him not to forget to mail me the five dollars he owes for the shout out.! Steve