Spark Plug Wire Question

[Colton]

Going to change plugs/wires, oil etc. as regular servicing, but i've decided to try a different type of plug wire brand than usual, but can't decide whether to buy the metal core wires (copper, stainless, etc) or if I should stick to the type i run now (threaded core). I've heard that the metal core wires can cause problems with the radio picking up. I would like to go to 8.5 mm wires due to having a few extra things on my truck. Anyone have any positive or negative experiences with either type of wire, is one type of wire specifically for battery sucking additions? I'm guessing quite a few people enjoy their magnecore wires, i'd just like to know if they have the threaded or metal core wires. Thanks.

 

[tnomud]

I bought the Accel universal 30o Plus Race wwires from Advance Auto and cut them to size. I have no problems and it smoothed out the idle a ton.

I have run Accels on many cars over the years and love them.

 

[Chris-St Louis]

I just bought some Magnacores and am totally impressed. The lenths are a little off, but overall they are built very well.

I'm sold on them.

 

[apg]

Ditto on Magnecor - 'cept I have to say that the lengths were spot-on. I even use 'em on the '72 Series III.

The come in three wire insulation sizes. 7mm duplicates the factory or OEM stuff. 8mm fits the wiring looms - barely, with a bit of 'encouragement'. 8.5 mm don't.

Magnecor. Quick service, reasonable price, quality product....

Cheers

 

[Chris-St Louis]

I'll tell ya which wires to stay away from for any application.

Those Red Lifetime warranty super silicone ones sold at Autozone. I can't remember the name... Duralast I think or something.

I've seen them installed on cars and they ran WORSE when with the worn out wires.

When I was in the feild, and had a car come in with a mis that was "Just tuned up" and saw those wires....... It was like dollar signs in my eyes......


It got even better if I pulled out a plug and saw the Bosch Plats attached! Ching Ching!

I knew this car was going to run a whole bunch better shortly.

Ahhh, the good old days.

 

[Nori]

Magnecor

 

[jsonova99]

I just installed magnecor 7mm wires on my D2, and they work fine. I must say that I also had a problem with lengths though on 1 or 2 of them. I compared the length of each on as I pulled an old wire and they matched exactly. It must be a routing thing since I was blindly reaching behind to the coil pack. I'll bet they are probably not routed as nicely as the original set was since I only did one wire at a time and in no particular order. Oh well, works fine.

 

[hywy61]

small hands ?

Joe,

How hard was it to reach around to get to the coil pack ? I need to do this but have read it is a bitch!

 

[Nori]

Yes, it is a bitch even with my small hands.

 

[Colton]

i appreciate the input on the wires. From what i hear the Bosch platinum +4's aren't worth a damn in a disco, so should i stick with a Champion plug, or should i convert to a different plug? What types of experiences have you guys had with other brands of plugs?

 

[antichrist]

On my '95 Disco I use the cheap plugs, Autolites, and magnecor 8mm wires.
I went to magnecore to get the PN I needed but I can't remember for sure where I bought them.

 

[Nori]

You can get them from http://www.4x4ag.com.

 

[Jim]

Another head's up on what not to buy, I just purchased some 7.5mm wires from Roversnorth and I was surprised at the poor quality of them. They were the $57.99 variety that carry the Land Rover logo on each wire but the boots at the cap are very thin and small, I actually had arcing on a few wires because the boot was so short that the exposed metal beneath was peaking out, like trying to make a bed with a sheet that's too small.

The other thing that bugged me was that at the plug end the fit is very prosaic, you don't get the positive "snap" where you know it's on and tight, it just sort of pushes on and you have to hope it stays there.

And, of course, the coil wire was nowhere near long enough so, after buying a new set of plug wires, I still need to go make a new coil wire.

It's a weird thing to be displeased about, but they're so cheaply made that I'm actually thinking of calling Rovers North and asking about returning/exchanging them for the Magnecor's that everyone seems to be so pleased with.

 

[96discoI]

Bump on a decade old thread but it is good advice I think. No matter what wires you do get or even if you don't, get some heat socks for those wires. I have a feeling that this is most of the problem and no one knows it. Ever since I put heat socks on my disco I, I have been running cheap gas and cheap wires. There is no protection from the exhaust manifold heat and I think most people just blame the wires but I am pretty sure the lack of heat shielding is the culprit. Good, thick wires can't hurt, but spend the money on heat socks first and see what happens...they are about 10 bucks apiece no matter where you go- happy hunting and safe motoring

 

[fishEH]

A PIECE?? So $80 for a complete set?

 

[ERover82]

or..
http://www.amazon.com/Protect-Shield-Thermal-Protection-Insulator/dp/B00178WH9G/

 

[96discoI]

yeah,much better deal on amazon. that's what i get for impulse buying...

 

[kennith]

I use Magnecor. All you want is a properly made cable. You don't need any of that fancy bullshit. Magnecor just makes a damned cable. That's it.

Some people use other brands, but it's a high-quality, simple copper cable you should be looking at. Kingsborne is popular as well for this purpose. Some people say they are better than Magnecor. I personally do not know.

These are expensive, but they last a long time, and they are what you need.

I use NGK iridium plugs. I use them because iridium is actually a good conductor, and because the smaller electrode resists fouling. Being particular hard, it also keeps it's sharp edge longer than copper. The less you've got to replace them, the less stress is placed on the threads.

Conventional plugs are perfectly fine, if that's what you'd prefer.

Whatever you get, gap the damned things properly, and clean the hell out of the threads and seats before you install them. Be very careful about the torque.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[robertf]

how does a smaller surface area reduce the chances of fouling?

And how does a harder material wear less when it is being electrically worn and not abrasively?

 

[kennith]

how does a smaller surface area reduce the chances of fouling?

And how does a harder material wear less when it is being electrically worn and not abrasively?

There's less surface area to foul, and less surface area for contaminants to adhere. Less stuff sticks, and the stuff that sticks is more easily removed.

As for wear, it doesn't matter what causes it. Good conductors and hard materials handle it better. The melting point of Iridium is also around 2.25 times that of copper. It's seriously tough shit, as evidenced by the frustrations of fine jewelers the world over.

That little spark may not seem so special, but hit the plug with it a hundred thousand times and see what happens. That's some seriously hot shit. A harder material with a higher melting point will take the abuse for a much longer period of time, and the effects of that can even further reduce fouling.

For the most part, though, that stuff doesn't matter. Some of these are the same basic principals, however, that make a +4 a worthless investment.

It's not a big deal, but I always do the best I can, so those are the plugs I run. There's nothing wrong with regular old copper that a lot of over-thinking can't fix.

Cheers,

Kennith