Engine Compartment Detailing - AN Fittings and Wire Looms

AN Fittings
Braided line and brightly colored AN fittings are now so commonplace that engine detailers are looking for alternatives. Earl's now offers great-looking nickel-coated AN fittings to use with those trick fabric lines. But what do you do if you have a box full of older, scratched red and blue AN fittings? Strope says there are several ways to get around those colors. He generally uses a soft-bristle wire wheel to remove the color. A stiff-bristle wheel will gouge the aluminum, so tread carefully. You can also use oven cleaner, but it's messy and often requires multiple attempts to remove the color. We're thinking of raiding our show-car buddy's stash of scratched colored AN fittings before he reads this story.

It's a simple before-and-after deal, and with a wire wheel you can hit a fitting in a minute or two at the most.
It's a simple before-and-after deal, and with a wire wheel you can hit a fitting in a minu
If you want to take it one step further, you can use a polishing wheel and compound and brighten the fitting to your liking.
If you want to take it one step further, you can use a polishing wheel and compound and br
You can take detail as far as you want. Strope even patiently highlights the timing marks, just because he can.
You can take detail as far as you want. Strope even patiently highlights the timing marks,

Wired Up
The aftermarket bulges with custom wire looms, and some actually do a decent job without looking cluttered. But Strope likes to take the easy way and make his own. He uses those mega-cheap four-pronged wire holders that come in most spark plug wire sets, but he cuts 'em up to make his own custom two-by-two wire looms. All it takes is a sharp X-Acto blade, a couple of tiny zip ties, and some patience. Follow the simple steps and get your plug wires in line.

Start by chopping the inline separator in half and then trimming the bottoms (arrow) to bring the two pairs of wires closer together. Next, use a tiny file to open up this area between the pair of wires to better fit the zip tie.
Start by chopping the inline separator in half and then trimming the bottoms (arrow) to br
Now zip the pair of wire connectors together, pull the zip tie as tight as possible, and trim off the excess.
Now zip the pair of wire connectors together, pull the zip tie as tight as possible, and t
What you have is a four-wire bundled wire separator that is dirt-cheap to make and nearly impossible to see, especially when used with black plug wires.
What you have is a four-wire bundled wire separator that is dirt-cheap to make and nearly

Here is that idea applied to Strope's Pontiac engine. He relocated the coil to the back of the motor and used it to help keep the wires located between the coil and the head.
Here is that idea applied to Strope's Pontiac engine. He relocated the coil to the back of