Educate me about spark plug wire, please!

[scottmandue]

Auto store generic brand (in stock, OEM spec so they say)= $32
NGK (next day order) = $38
MSD (Order) = $76
Accel = $101 (not happening)

What say ye? Are all spark plug wires created equal?

Thanks!

[Aragorn]

Yes and no. All wires do the same job but it goes to how well they do them and for how long. Cheap wires in my experience burn out quickly and are not worth the trouble. Heavier more expensive wires are better at isolating the spark and carrying the energy without loss or misfire/crossfire. Heavier wires also prevent some ghost signaling on your radio/stereo.

Now the question comes as to what you are using them on. On a daily driver I wouldn't go for the most expensive unless you DD an expensive luxury or performance car. Middle of the road is good for a middle of the road car. On my DD I have used Autolite and have had good luck. Never have used NGK (they make good plugs IMHO) or MSD or Accel.

These all just my personal opinions and I am sure others will disagree saying spend the most and get the best.

[fastfredracing]

The cheap wires, a lot of times, are a one time use. When you go to replace spark plugs the next time, the boots will often tear, and the connectors will pull off the ends. What are these going on?

[aigel]

Miata.

I would buy the NGK for the middle ground.

What auto store?

The AutoZone cheapo wires are okay IMHO.

G

[kach22i]

Interesting, I did not know NGK made wire sets.

On my 1977 part #EUC026.
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/part_finder/car_truck_suv/results.asp

NGK Wire Sets



Just shy of $200 though.

[Rick Lee]

I bought the wires only for my 993 and reused the connectors. I think I paid around $150 for the red wires. Some guy on Rennlist sells them. That job, on a 993 anyway, is so miserable, I will pay a premium to not have to do it again. Gawd, it sucks on a 993. A clutch replacement is less work.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I bought the wires only for my 993 and reused the connectors. I think I paid around $150 for the red wires. Some guy on Rennlist sells them. That job, on a 993 anyway, is so miserable, I will pay a premium to not have to do it again. Gawd, it sucks on a 993. A clutch replacement is less work.

It sucks so bad that I stopped mid-way and sold the individual wires and my old connecters and just bough the fully assembled set.

BTW, Wayne sells the bare wire sets now too here.

G

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by aigel

Miata.

I would buy the NGK for the middle ground.

What auto store?

The AutoZone cheapo wires are okay IMHO.

G

Yes, for my DD, 1996 Miata = O'Reilly "OmniSpark" $32 in stock (limited lifetime warrenty). Autozone store brand $32 can get them next day.

[aigel]

I would spend the extra $6 for the NGK label. May be the same wires, but that's only one pint of beer extra for getting name brand.

G

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by aigel

I would spend the extra $6 for the NGK label. May be the same wires, but that's only one pint of beer extra for getting name brand.

G

Yes, but in my world a pint of beer is a valuable commodity!

Think I will examine the OmniSparks seeing as they have them on the shelf and if they don't look too bad try a set...

Worst case they only last a year or two and then I splurge for the name brand...

[EarlyPorsche]

No! It's $6 to get NGK! Get the NGK because they actually have so,etching to lose if their wires don't last or short when its humid out or cross fire easily or disintegrate from the inside out. $6 man!

[rusnak]

Are we talking about a water cooled non-Porsche?

I'd say go to Napa Auto, and get a set of the Beldin premium wires. Lifetime warranty, and not expensive like some weird experimental boutique brand wires.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Yes, but in my world a pint of beer is a valuable commodity!

Think I will examine the OmniSparks seeing as they have them on the shelf and if they don't look too bad try a set...

Worst case they only last a year or two and then I splurge for the name brand...

Well, that's contradictory. Richard Clewett of the namesake ignition engineering firm would say match the wires to the system. IOW, he might not recommend 9mm spiral core for your application.

I've got a SBC throwing out 40K volts with a cam that would foul a lot of plugs. I use the 9mm wires.

[John Rogers]

My take on plug wires as taught by my Porsche mentor was as follows: stock engine, use stock or factory wires as my daughter's 914 2L. If modified such as my race car was with a MSD box, high voltage off road coil then use 9mm racing wires and replace yearly. I bought a 100 foot roll of 9mm wire, generic ends (both plug and distributor and made my own, usually over the summer break (San Diego you know). I had a MSD spark voltage tester and when new the voltage at the plug was about 15,000 volts and after a year would fall off to 12000 volts or so due to the heat, etc.

Summit Racing sell various colors so I had blue to match my car.......

[RWebb]

I am just using the stock wires from a 964 (yes, they are good for something) on my 911.

here is an old post I saved:

"Lastly, its a well known fact that the Beru plug connectors are a
major problem due to internal resistor failures, This is why we use
the Magnecor wires and their resistor-less, proprietary connectors to
proactively prevent these kinds of problems (melted dist. rotor)."
__________________
Steve Weiner

[BGCarrera32]

If that post is from Steve I have the utmost respect for the guy but greatly disagree with that opinion- where's the data to back that up? The factory went through a lot of work to get the resistance of the wires to match and generally stay within 10 percent of each other across the engine.

One big issue I hated with Magnecores is the sloppy connections at the plug. The factory Porsche/Beru is FAR superior in that regard for latching on tight and staying put. If you actually dissect Magnecore wires they're not bad per say but a lot of overhyped cool fat red wire nonsense for what you get. The connection end at the 911 distributor also sucks...you have to lift the boot to purge the air and other excuses for a universal boot that is a pain in the a$$ to seat.

[JAR0023]

I've used MSD wires with success on some non-Porsche vehicles. When I replaced the 26 yo Berus on my 911 last year I ended up going with Bosch wires. Very similar to the factory wires for a lot less $$. The Bosch wires actually use Beru boots complete with resistor. -J

[Bill Douglas]

I've got a couple of sets but checked the resistance on each wire and mixed and matched, plus reseated connectors to get a good set.

[jaywsgz]

The cheap wires, a lot of times, are a one time use. When you go to replace spark plugs the next time

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by BGCarrera32

If that post is from Steve I have the utmost respect for the guy but greatly disagree with that opinion- where's the data to back that up? The factory went through a lot of work to get the resistance of the wires to match and generally stay within 10 percent of each other across the engine.

One big issue I hated with Magnecores is the sloppy connections at the plug. The factory Porsche/Beru is FAR superior in that regard for latching on tight and staying put. If you actually dissect Magnecore wires they're not bad per say but a lot of overhyped cool fat red wire nonsense for what you get. The connection end at the 911 distributor also sucks...you have to lift the boot to purge the air and other excuses for a universal boot that is a pain in the a$$ to seat.

It is, tho I don't know how old it is. He has a lot of experience with racing and high end street rods Gamrothianized 911s.

I am just passing this on, as my stock 964 dualie setup seems to work fine (tho it is heavy).

I would never claim that P AG does not make mistakes.