68 HEMI Road Runner Question

[426HemiChick]

Hi Folks,                  06 November 2021

When we bought our 1968 Hemi RR, we bought it new from the new car lot at Westside Chrysler Plymouth, Akron Ohio, April 1968. It had Red Silicone Plug wires, which were an eye grabber when we popped the hood. We see black wires in photos of Hemi engines of that era. We surely didn't put them on and we still have them.

Was ours a fluke or was this the normal? Our car had only been on the dealer's lot a short time, 2 weeks or less. The sales order is packed away so we can't verify the exact date at the moment.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[odcics2]

Post a pic of the wires... Please show both ends, too.
Are they solid core?

[426HemiChick]

Post a pic of the wires... Please show both ends, too.
Are they solid core?

Hi odcics2 ,                 06 November 2021

We believe they were the resistor wires but can't say for certain. They are packed away awaiting our move to Phoenix. .

When we built the Hemi for racing we ordered a set of wires from Mopar Racing (Factory) that were red silicone, heavier/thicker and solid core. Had the originals been solid core we most likely would have used them for the race engine.

The race wires are in Wisconsin at Scott Lee's place waiting on our move. He is bringing them when he come here to move us.

As soon as we are in Phoenix, we re going to start unpacking so we can get the cars back together.

Thanks for the post. We were curious if anyone else had the same experience.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[426HemiChick]

Hi Folks,                   07 November 2021

Quick update: Got to thinking, if the wires would have been black, we would still have them, we are "Pack Rats" when it comes to cars. As we mentioned, the red wires were an eye grabber and the second thing we noticed when we popped the hood was the Hemi Air Cleaner and the size of the Elephant sitting there waiting for us to give it a new home.

All the folks that helped us get it ready to race, have all passed on. No one left to ask. We miss all those folks, they were a great bunch, as most people that love cars are . . . . especially Mopar Lovers.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[odcics2]

Chrysler had a brick red, stainless steel core wire for
the race hemis. Thinking that may have been what you
had. (Have)

[426HemiChick]

Chrysler had a brick red, stainless steel core wire for
the race hemis. Thinking that may have been what you
had. (Have)

Hi Odcics2,                        08 November 2021

You are correct. We bought a set from Chrysler Racing. We still have the red wires that came on the 68 Hemi RR. The race wires were on Bob's Daytona when he picked it up. He has removed those wires and packed them up for return to us. He gave them to Scott Lee so he could bring them to Southlake along with the RR's Transmission and a few other items we had put on the Daytona back in 72 & 74.

We will get the red wires unpacked once all our Mopar stuff is in Phoenix; at that time we will take Photos of the wires and post them on this thread. We do appreciate your input. We are certain you and many others here are the experts, not us.

We made few changes to the Daytona and none were irreversible. Bob's Daytona was our second Hemi, the Hemi Cuda was the third. Of our four Mopar's, the Daytona was hands down the best runner of the lot. The Cuda was the worst, which was the main reason we sold it in 75. It was a horrible car to drive.

We never found out what actually happened to it; we know it was in an accident that totaled it. Never heard what happened to the driver or who the driver was. Have tried tracking its Vin to no avail. We have posted its Vin on our original thread.

We appreciate anyone else's knowledge and comments on this subject.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[odcics2]

To your original question: I wouldn't be surprised if your original black hemi wires got pulled by the dealer for another hemi car in the service area.
Quick fix was the red wires you got when purchased.
Another explanation is yes, they do stand out on the dealers lot.
Probably didn't influence you buying the car, though...


The first scenario is the most plausible.

[426HemiChick]

To your original question: I wouldn't be surprised if your original black hemi wires got pulled by he dealer for another hemi car in the service area.
Quick fix was the red wires you got when purchased.
Another explanation is yes, they do stand out on the dealers lot.
Probably didn't influence you buying the car, though...


The first scenario is the most plausible.

Hi Odcics2,                  09 November 2021

Now that's something we never considered. It was sitting there in the back lot (it was in the front of all the cars there) with those Hot looking red wires contrasting against the huge black rocker/valve covers. How could anyone that has red blood running through their veins resist a sight like that?

Nah, didn't interest or influence us in the least.

If anyone believes that statement, we have lots of Ocean Front Beach Property and a nice ski resort, all in Phoenix, and it's all For Sale.

Thanks Odcics, think you probably solved the 53 year old mystery. Actually, it wasn't a mystery to us back then because we didn't know any different. Once we started on this site and saw other Hemi's with black wires we started wondering. From now on we are going to stick with . . . . .  RED !!!

Once our 68 HEMI RR is back together, it'll have a nice set of RED Silicone Solid Core Wires lying atop Black Rocker/Valve Covers.

Thanks Again for helping "Learn" us.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[odcics2]

No problemo.

How did the AM radio play? 
The race wires would have made lots of static.
Red resistor wires would play ok...   

[426HemiChick]

No problemo.

How did the AM radio play? 
The race wires would have made lots of static.
Red resistor wires would play ok...   

Hi Odcics2,             09 November 2021

By the time we finished the engine, the 1968 racing season was over; it had something to do with the weather, called N. Ohio SNOW.

We ordered/bought the SB in 69 and eventually yanked the engine and plugged the Hemi into it. It was ordered sans radio.

During one of the RR & SB's stays in a warehouse, they received a visit from scum. They stole the front wheels/tires and wipers (blades and arms) off the SB; stole the radio from the RR and proceeded to smash the driver side rear wing window; the car was not locked. There may be a few more items missing we haven't noticed . . . . yet.

During the RR's 6 weeks of being driven in 1968, the radio was fine, which validates your thoughts, so the red wires on the RR have to be resistor wires; we still have them. Fantastic Detective work. . . . you are good!!!

Thanks a bunch.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[426HemiChick]

Hi Odcics2,               10 November 2021

Two remaining questions:

1. Back in 68, had we gone to a dealer's parts department and asked for a set of Hemi plug wires, which would we have gotten, the Red Silicone Resistor wires or a set of the black ones?

2. Were the black OE wires silicone?

Just curious, and thanks again for "Learning" us.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

11 Nov 21 - EDIT: Looks like I need to learn how to spell ! Check quote in post below.

[odcics2]

Hi Odcics2,               10 November 2021

Two remaining questions:

1. Back in 68, had we gone to a dealer's parts department and asked for a set of Hemi plug wires, which would we have gotten, the Red Silicone Resistor wires or a set of the black ones?

2. Were the black OE wires silicone?

Just curious, and thanks again for "Learning" us.

Beast Always

426 Hemi Chicks

Black resistor wires.  Never silicone.

[426HemiChick]

Black resistor wires.  Never silicone.

Hi Odcics2,                  11 November 2021

Your info begs a third question:

3. Where do you think the red wires came from? The RR wasn't on the dealers lot long before we bought it.

Won't know how long until we get home and unpack the paperwork and the parts. If we remember correctly, the build date and purchase date are quite close.

Thanks Again for your help in unraveling this mystery.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[odcics2]

Local parts store to replace the set that the dealer pilfered!!

[426HemiChick]

Local parts store to replace the set that the dealer pilfered!!

Hi Again,                 11 November 2021

So that's why they gave us such a great deal, they wanted to get rid of the Red Elephant hanging around their lot.

We paid $3300.00 + tax, title and license. If we remember correctly it stickered for $3889.00. The tax (4%) was $132, title $15, License $10; about $3457 and change.

Come to think about it, had Chrysler equipped all the Hemi's with Red Silicone wires, they'd probably have sold mucho mas.

Thanks Again.

Best Always

426 Hemi Chicks

[odcics2]

Glad to help...
Mystery solved!