Spark plug wires for old 911’s

[Nick Triesch]

I went to pep boys today to order some new plug wires and the parts girl said they were $281 for the regular set and $599 for the good ones. Why do these wires cost so much? They do not have gold wires! They are not braided. They don’t come with a guy named Hans to install them. I have owned many VW bugs and they really look like the same quality. Spark plug wires should not cost the same as a new interior in a 99 Honda Civic.

[RSTarga]

the Beru are only 126dls right here on Pelican

[Nick Triesch]

Ok, thanks

[zeusdog]

I replaced my 34-year old original wires on my SC with the Clewett Engineering wires from our host.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/CE919228R.htm?pn=CE-9192-28-R&SVSVSI=802

They're about $150. Along with a new cap and rotor, there was a distinct improvement in engine smoothness. There is zero ignition noise on the radio and no apparent interference with the CDI, despite discarding the braided shielding over the original wires. The wires come pre-numbered, so there's no guessing which wire belongs where.

They come in red or black. The red looks pretty good with the fan ducting.



Zeusdog

[Nick Triesch]

Thanks! I have a German set Beru. They are in good condition but number 3 came apart at the main plug. I took it to a mechanic and he fixed it like me new!

[cmcfaul]

I have used a few different brands. Love the Magnacore's. Very easy to put on and pull off the plugs without breaking.

Chris
89 Carrera

[KTL]

Clewett has a sale going on right now for 10% off wires by themselves or 50% off if you buy an ignition system or free if you buy an engine management system

[Bill Douglas]

I've replace the bits on the end that connect to the spark plugs, but the wires are fine. It can be the connection between the wire and the "bit on the end" causing the problem. I check the ohms then snip the ends and reconnect them until they are all good and even.

[KTL]

I think what Bill is referring to is the plastic plug end that connects with the spark plug. The top of the plug end, where the wire goes in at a 90 degree angle, has a male coarse thread screw shank inside. It's like a wood screw and you literally screw the raw end of the wire (cleanly & squarely cut) into the plug end. The pointy end of the screw pierces the central conductor within the wire and that's how the current is transmitted. Sounds rather crude, I know.

On the later style wires like the Carreras ('85-up I believe), the wires have a crimped on male terminal with really tiny male threads. Those male threads screw into the plug end in a cleaner way since the later plug end has female machine threads inside.

So my point of mentioning this for future readers/searchers. There's two ways the wire is connected to the plug end- crude wood screw style or crimped on male machine screw terminal style.