Jimi,
Not meaning to sound crude, but I hate going to Advance. The reason being, at least 1 out of 3 times that I go there, they give me the wrong part. Then, when I take it back along with the old part to try and match up, they will sometimes argue with me saying that the part was not used on my model. I also ordered a brake caliper from them thru their PDQ program one day since they did not have it in stock. They told me it would be in the next day. I went ahead and left my car jacked up and the tire off so I would not have to do it again the next day. When I went to get the part the next morning, much to my surprise, the part was not there. The salesman told me it takes 2 days to get that part. I accepted the fact it was not there and would be the next day. I made arrangements to use another car for the day until I got my parts the NEXT day. The next day rolled around and I went to pick up the parts and again to my surprise, it was not there. This salesman told me it takes 3 days to get the part considering which warehouse it was coming from. I was very unhappy and let them know that. I also let them know I was told it would be there 2 days ago and he just ignored me. Finally the next morning, they got the part in. I brought it home and was ready to install it and get the car running. I took it out of the box and SURPRISE, it was the wrong D@%N side. I then took the part back and was told it would be 2 days...gee, this is beginning to sound like a broken record. I did get the right part finally and got it going. It almost took me a week after I was told it would be the next day. I still purchase parts from them but only if I have to. Their prices are usually higher than AutoZone and at least they do get stock in more than once a week. I still have a problem with people calling in on the phone and them answering the phone while I am standing there trying to be helped. Several times, I have been standing there and they ask me what I need and as I am telling them, phone rings and they answer it and take care of whoever on the phone after I have been waiting 10+ minutes. This is one of my pet peeves.
Getting back to your statement about the plug wires, Advance told me they do not stock them and could not even get them since they were not a dealer of the wires. I would challenge you to call them (since they do tend to think the phone customer is more important than the ones standing in front of them) and get a price on them and see if they could get them. I think you will find that they can't and that is why they told you the BS about 100,000 miles. I replaced my wires about 6 months ago with another parts store brand and decided to try the Splitfire wires anyway since I had heard so much about them. I know the new wires were still good, but I could tell an improvement with the Splitfire wires. The metal core is a much better conducter than the graphite or kevlar core that 90% of the other brands use.
I too did the airbox drilling and the K & N filter but I did not do it at the same time and did see a difference with each modification. I think you too would see a difference with the new wires in addition to what you have. The Splitfire wires have about one tenth of the resistance of the stock wires so the voltage supplied at the plug is much stronger than with stock.
Again, keep us informed and let us know what happens...especially if you try to order the Splitfire wires from Advance. I think you will find they can't get them anyway.
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Ira
91 XLT 4x4
Once I thought I was wrong, but I was mistaken.