spark plugs/wires in 5.0

[99SportX]

Thats exactly what I did- I had 8 socks plus the 4 that came on the wires, so double socks in high heat areas. My boots literally fell apart cracked open and were brittle to the touch.

The wires are a bit long- I may learn how to make my own ends so I can make my wires the length I want.

I can't find the pictures I took- I have them somewhere, it shows the boot in pieces.

Mine boots didn't literally fall apart, but I do think the metal terminal should have been stuck into the boot a little better than it was. The boot was 100% intact and still looked new. The terminal just ripped out when I pulled them off the plugs.

My main issue is that one of the wires that broke was the shortest one in the set. I think it will still reach one of the front cylinders once I get a new boot on it.

 

[storlied]

What would happen if I swapped my plugs and left the stock wires?
The wires don't look old... But they say 1998 all along them. I don't know if that's the year they came from or just for the year of the vehicle. But they look pretty clean and new? The lady who had it before me had it dealer maintained. I don't know when they might have changed all of this, but I've heard when you hit 100k, you should change them.

 

[whdahel]

What would happen if I swapped my plugs and left the stock wires?
The wires don't look old... But they say 1998 all along them. I don't know if that's the year they came from or just for the year of the vehicle. But they look pretty clean and new? The lady who had it before me had it dealer maintained. I don't know when they might have changed all of this, but I've heard when you hit 100k, you should change them.

Ther is still a good chance that your Stocks are still good at 100k(you will know when they arent, especially when its wet out)


On a side note: I use to work for a test lab which tested every thing Dephi Packard made and I worked in the iginitions lab. While I was there I tested a large variety of wire for break down under High voltage and for endurance . we baked em, coated them with oil, salt water, just bout every thing you could find under a hood. For my past experiences I learned that one of the best aftermarkets was the Holley eliminators (if they still make them) Mallory and MSD didnt rate as well. Also the stock Delphi Cables Did pretty good. Once I had some engineers bring down a High Perfomance design they used in NASCAR and TopFuel. They watched me test them and then left with the samples, I guess it wa a gaureded test.

I purchaced a set of Autolite wires for My Vic a few years ago and they held up great , bout 4 years till I sold the car. I would recomend them to anyone. I would use them again.

Just my .02


Also for the fella that mentioned custom lenghts, It is easy to do you just need to find some new terminals, you can reuse the same boots.

 

[storlied]

Hmm..

 

[aldive]

Definately change the wires too.

Good luck ....

 

[Norad]

I like the taylor wires that I have. I ma not sure the amount of difference that they make on my X but I have had 0 problems with them. Just my 2 cents

 

[techieman33]

What would happen if I swapped my plugs and left the stock wires?
The wires don't look old... But they say 1998 all along them. I don't know if that's the year they came from or just for the year of the vehicle. But they look pretty clean and new? The lady who had it before me had it dealer maintained. I don't know when they might have changed all of this, but I've heard when you hit 100k, you should change them.

you might as well change the wires too. The way I look at is, if your going to do the job you might as well do it right.

 

[lee2489]

are MSD wires quality? or are they just another so called "premium" brand?

 

[Turdle]

are MSD wires quality? or are they just another so called "premium" brand?

I couldn't find MSD wires for our application-maybe things have changed

Stock wires are 8mm. For the rpm range you will use this is an excellent wire.

 

[storlied]

How do you test wires? Is it possible? Is it even worth doing?

 

[techieman33]

test the wires for what? continuity, resistance, etc.

 

[storlied]

For health?...lol.. idk.. to see if they're working at their full potential..

 

[Evil Eye]

The insulating material breaks down not the wires. It's pretty easy to tell when your insulating material is breaking down. PS. your wires may have a slight amount of increased reactance (resistance), but it is unlikely that it would be measurable.

 

[aldive]

How do you test wires? Is it possible? Is it even worth doing?

Ohmmeter.

 

[Turdle]

See
we work back to a multi meter again-
You did get one-yes?

 

[aldive]

See
we work back to a multi meter again-
You did get one-yes?

The other way to test the wire is to disconnect it from the spark plug while the motor is running and touch the disconnected end to your tongue

 

[Turdle]

Please don't tell me you bought a catback, an intake, xcal and tuning but no 20.00 meter.

The other way to test the wire is to disconnect it from the spark plug while the motor is running and touch the disconnected end to your tongue

Because this method hurts ^^^^

 

[storlied]

Please don't tell me you bought a catback, an intake, xcal and tuning but no 20.00 meter.

Uhm.... Okay... then I won't tell you...

 

[CDW6212R]

Most plug wires will create odd small symptoms before they fail. A lot of odd loss of mileage, throttle response, power, missing, plus random problems, they can be from plug wires. The insulation failing is not measurable and can cause those issues. The very best insulation will not come on cheap sets, and very few top brands. It's wisest to simply replace them at a certain age or mileage. I'd do the cheap wires at 2-3 years, and not much more than that for Motorcraft or Taylor. I have Magnecors and am planning to make them honor the lifetime warantee. Good luck,

 

[mtrsprt43]

Has anyone used Performace Distrutors Plug Wires???They run $129 and from the other stuff I have seen from they should be if the best quality out there. Check them out.
http://www.performancedistributors.com/fordlivewires.htm...they are anbout in the middle of the page.....