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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

spark plug wires, what are we using these days?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mostsmooth
  • Start date Start date Jan 11, 2021
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revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 14, 2004
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Acworth, GA
Jan 20, 2021
#41
  • Jan 20, 2021
  • #41
I'm willing to bet you that if you put any of those wires, Taylors, Accels, Morosos, whatever on your car, did a dyno pull, and then put the $18 wire set from Autozone on it, it would dyno damn near the exact same number. After struggling with those livewires on the MR2, I took them off and put the factory Toyota wires on it, and it ran better.

Kurt
 
Reactions: Monkeybutt2000, Potomus Pete, mikestang63 and 1 other person

Dan02gt

mazing how much gas smell came from that tiny hole
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
909
415
113
Greenville, NC
Jan 21, 2021
#42
  • Jan 21, 2021
  • #42
You guys are making me feel like I need to dump my Motorcraft wires for something fancy. JK
 

96pushrod

I think they're a little easier to get off
5 Year Member
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Savannah
Jan 21, 2021
#43
  • Jan 21, 2021
  • #43
Firecore makes a damn nice wire, but they’re about $125 for the set if I remember correctly.

The summit 50ohm wire can be bought by the 25ft spool, and with terminals and a cheap amazon plug wire crimp tool you can make a whole set exactly in the length you want for about $80, cheaper if you already have a crimp tool. That’s what I do now, and will continue to do from now on.
 
Reactions: revhead347 and General karthief

revhead347

Apparently my ex-husband made that mistake.
20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 14, 2004
9,297
1,641
214
Acworth, GA
Jan 21, 2021
#44
  • Jan 21, 2021
  • #44
I've had some custom engines where I had to make the wires for it. Cutting wires honestly isn't that bad. I have some cheap crimp you put in a vice that does the ends.

Kurt
 
Reactions: General karthief

nickyb

I gotta say i never painted my nuts, Never Ever
15 Year Member
Apr 3, 2009
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nevada
Jan 21, 2021
#45
  • Jan 21, 2021
  • #45
I said it before, msd streetfire wires.Amazon fifty bucks. You get to customize them.
 
M

mostsmooth

Active Member
Nov 12, 2002
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Jan 21, 2021
#46
  • Jan 21, 2021
  • #46
hi all,
so the takeaway from this thread seems to be in general that there's various options and they will all work fine.
i think i am coming around to actually making my own wires. i watched some videos and it doesnt seem nearly as difficult as i was expecting.
i think i will be putting together a shopping list and ordering things tomorrow.
will likely go with the summit wire 96pushrod mentioned, or some MSD superconductor 8.5 mm. depends which one i can get here the quickest (which would likely be the MSD from amazon). maybe the streetfires that were mentioned too.

i was considering the $38 used wires from Ebay that were mentioned, but i dont know that i want to wait too long, and making the wires seems fun and rewarding, and i like making stuff.

not sure if I will go with the simple msd crimp tool or a hand held crimper.

any thoughts on double or single crimp connectors?

what about boots, is there a decent boot out there i can get on amazon?

thanks
 

96pushrod

I think they're a little easier to get off
5 Year Member
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Savannah
Jan 22, 2021
#47
  • Jan 22, 2021
  • #47
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-889202

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-8849

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-3301


Those items are all you need to make plug wires, plug one extra boot and terminal to make the coil wire. It’s a good idea to get an extra two terminals if it’s your first time, allow just in case you mess up.

Double crimp terminals are nice, but not required.
 
M

mostsmooth

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Jan 22, 2021
#48
  • Jan 22, 2021
  • #48
thanks 96pushrod
those are the crimpers i put in my cart already as a placeholder, nice.
thanks again
 
Reactions: 96pushrod

marcelo

Active Member
Feb 25, 2018
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Quepos, Costa Rica, Central America
Jan 24, 2021
#49
  • Jan 24, 2021
  • #49
got my Blue Streak Wires yesterday .... like new ...!!
 

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M

mostsmooth

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#50
  • Jan 24, 2021
  • #50
marcelo said:
got my Blue Streak Wires yesterday .... like new ...!!
Click to expand...
how long did it take from order to arrival? just curious.

tell us about the fit and any problems you encounter, if any?
 

Potomus Pete

I'm still waiting for the fully nude shots
5 Year Member
Mar 7, 2019
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Sarasota Florida
Jan 24, 2021
#51
  • Jan 24, 2021
  • #51
They look like 10 mm
 

marcelo

Active Member
Feb 25, 2018
215
48
38
Quepos, Costa Rica, Central America
Jan 24, 2021
#52
  • Jan 24, 2021
  • #52
USPS 4 Days shipping to Miami... this are Chevy Wires so the numbers dont match with ford ... but they all fit and no problems ..I had these wires on my other 331 .. but sold them .. next week I gonna install them on my actual engine... they have a heat shield thas why they look so thick and are like 12mm thick..
 

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96pushrod

I think they're a little easier to get off
5 Year Member
May 15, 2018
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Savannah
Jan 24, 2021
#53
  • Jan 24, 2021
  • #53
I believe the blue streak stuff is 8.5mm, but has a sleeve on them
 

marcelo

Active Member
Feb 25, 2018
215
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38
Quepos, Costa Rica, Central America
Jan 27, 2021
#54
  • Jan 27, 2021
  • #54
here installed .. they fit very good ..
 

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mostsmooth

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Jan 29, 2021
#55
  • Jan 29, 2021
  • #55
so i started making the wires. the first and only crimp i made was dog **** i think.
dual crimp style terminals, the conductor is being gripped by the crimp things well i think (not sure what to call them but they are the rolled tong things that you crimp onto the conductor), but the conductor is on an angle. its kinda parallel, but definitely on an angle between the tongs. I was thinking it should be underneath the tongs and the tongs would press it against the terminal. i cant find any real good images or videos of what it should look like.

the thing is the horizontal plane the conductor is on is a little above the plane i want it to be on (so it can sit below the tongs), so i would have to bend it right as it comes out of the sheathing, which i dont know if its a good idea or not.

as far as i can tell from triple checking the part numbers, i have the right terminals for the wire i have.

so, the conductor should be under the crimp, right? or does it not matter much? im thinking i want that conductor laying as flat as possible and with as much metal to conductor contact as possible.

thanks
 

96pushrod

I think they're a little easier to get off
5 Year Member
May 15, 2018
1,530
871
133
Savannah
Jan 29, 2021
#56
  • Jan 29, 2021
  • #56
mostsmooth said:
so i started making the wires. the first and only crimp i made was dog **** i think.
dual crimp style terminals, the conductor is being gripped by the crimp things well i think (not sure what to call them but they are the rolled tong things that you crimp onto the conductor), but the conductor is on an angle. its kinda parallel, but definitely on an angle between the tongs. I was thinking it should be underneath the tongs and the tongs would press it against the terminal. i cant find any real good images or videos of what it should look like.

the thing is the horizontal plane the conductor is on is a little above the plane i want it to be on (so it can sit below the tongs), so i would have to bend it right as it comes out of the sheathing, which i dont know if its a good idea or not.

as far as i can tell from triple checking the part numbers, i have the right terminals for the wire i have.

so, the conductor should be under the crimp, right? or does it not matter much? im thinking i want that conductor laying as flat as possible and with as much metal to conductor contact as possible.

thanks
Click to expand...


there’s really only one way to do a double crimp
 

96pushrod

I think they're a little easier to get off
5 Year Member
May 15, 2018
1,530
871
133
Savannah
Jan 29, 2021
#57
  • Jan 29, 2021
  • #57
When I do a dual crimp style, I crimp the silicone sleeve, and after I gently push the core with a flat head screw driver (or anything thin a s flag) while crimping the second, just very lightly until the core will stay in the terminal itself. Then I finish the crimp. I like to crimp the silicone sleeve first, because if you do the core first, sometimes it can get strained when going back and crimping the sleeve

That’s why I usually recommend a couple extra terminals if it’s your first time. FYI, the single crimp method is easier, but I like the dual crimp if available.

That’s the most times I’ve ever typed out “crimp”
 
M

mostsmooth

Active Member
Nov 12, 2002
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Jan 30, 2021
#58
  • Jan 30, 2021
  • #58
96pushrod said:
When I do a dual crimp style, I crimp the silicone sleeve, and after I gently push the core with a flat head screw driver (or anything thin a s flag) while crimping the second, just very lightly until the core will stay in the terminal itself. Then I finish the crimp. I like to crimp the silicone sleeve first, because if you do the core first, sometimes it can get strained when going back and crimping the sleeve

That’s why I usually recommend a couple extra terminals if it’s your first time. FYI, the single crimp method is easier, but I like the dual crimp if available.

That’s the most times I’ve ever typed out “crimp”
Click to expand...
thanks
right, that method with doing the sleeve first was what i was going to try today and adjust the conductor in place.

i am going to have to get some extra terminals, at least 1 to redo this one i did already. hopefully the rest go much better.

thanks again
 
M

mostsmooth

Active Member
Nov 12, 2002
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Jan 30, 2021
#59
  • Jan 30, 2021
  • #59
pics below. how bad am i doing?
im having a bit of trouble getting the big crimps to form properly. i tried to bend in the tabs a bit, no luck yet. i keep getting a weird fold in the crimp. overall it feels really solid though.

it seems like the big crimp is getting too squished, i hope thats just because of the technique isnt good yet
 

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96pushrod

I think they're a little easier to get off
5 Year Member
May 15, 2018
1,530
871
133
Savannah
Jan 30, 2021
#60
  • Jan 30, 2021
  • #60
Your silicone sleeve is pushed way too far forward. Flush it with the end of the tabs and you’ll do better.
 
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