I am restoring a 1974 IMP 225S Ford 302. <br /><br />I was getting ready to re-install the engine when I noticed the insulation around the two wires the pass through the transom housing was hard and would crumble when I moved it. The two wires are mostly wrapped in tape, but as I pealed back the tape and messed with the wire insulation, the insulation would continue to break off. I noticed on another transom assembly that came with the boat that the insulation on those wires appears to be brittle also. <br /><br />Is this a common problem? Does the heat from the Y pipes tend to fry these wires? Finally, how does one replace them? What do they conect to? I could not see a connection on the bell housing pivot pins.