what are you guys using for plug wire

I know that it wouldn't look as good but didn't they run #8 plug wire on top of the valve cover and come in from the back???

Some stock big blocks ran both #7 and #8 that way. You can run all of them over the top of the valve covers if you have straight boots and the right type of wire looms that attach to the bottom valve cover bolts. The looms keep the wires off the manifolds. Lots of early big blocks came that way from the factory.