Carrera Spark Plug Wires?

[MarkRobinson]

My tolerance is usually 1/4".

[zippy_gg]

Mark, thank you for my red Beru wire set. I hope to be able to install the wires and new plugs sometime in the next couple of weeks.

[RichHawk]

Originally Posted by MarkRobinson

Porsche 911 '84-89 (coil) 7 22.5
6 37.5
5 34.5
4 31.5
3 20.5
2 17.5
1 11.5

These are the lengths I have measured for the '84-89 3.2, though no notes if the disty end screws onto the wire or not: see my picture a few posts up of what a brass "M3" looks like.

To test, take a toothpick and break the heat/age bond between the disty boot end & the wire: run the toothpick around 360 degrees and maybe use some Armor-all as a lubricant, then see if it unscrews.

Resurrecting this thread from the grave:
(Mark are you still making these wires?)

Two details were never clearly answered, So I under took it to answer them myself.
1) Are the 1987 Carrera plug wire ends at the dizzy Beru "M3" screw terminals? YES definitively. Here are pics from my all original 1987 wires:





Second was what length do the 1987 Carrera wires need to be.

Mark's lengths above do not conform to the original routing of my wires, which for the right side hug the fan shroud , slide under the AC bracket and make a 90 deg turn to finally slip into the vale covers.

My Measured lengths:
coil - 21"
1 - 13.5"
2 - 15.25"
3 - 17.25"

4 - 41.75"
5 - 42.5"
6 - 54.25"

[RichHawk]

Next detail,
the 87 Plug wires and holders have a slip on cover for wires 4, 5, and 6 that provide additional protection from rubbing and form shorting.
You can see it in the following picture, as the cover has cracked, showing the Beru 7mm wire inside.





The slip on "tube" insulation just looks like a thin walled rubber hose that is slid over the plug wire. It's important to have something this diameter so that the wires will fit snug in the plastic hold downs going around the fan.

This tube is not continuous over the entire wire, just at the high wear points

Wire 4 has 14" of this tube only around the fan curve
Wire 5 has 14" of this tube only around the fan curve
Wire 6 has 26" of this tube around the fan curve plus after the fan curve under the AC bracket.

[Drisump]

The protective covering is where the 4-5-6 leads go over the fan shroud. I ordered and installed the Magnecor set, I'm assuming that the wires do not "require" the additional protection but I still have to sort out what to fill the gap between the wire and the hold down devices. I guess that I'll probably get some rubber hose of the apparent proper dimension, cut a slit along it's length, and slip it over the wires. Also, on the Magnecors, the "crowding" on the distributor cap is an issue, I found that I'm a little concerned about the quality of the contact on the distributor lead because to get ANY feeling of the "teeth" biting in, you have to push pretty hard. So my concern is that with the vibration over the miles that it may walk itself out of the distributor. My concern may be unfounded but those are some of my thoughts.....the red wires with the black Carrera is pretty bling though.

[KTL]

The Magnecor 8.5 wires are fat, so you'll find you have to enlarge the looms to fit the wires in them. No big deal- proper drill bit makes short work of that.

I did the same thing with the wires over the fan. I cut some hose lengthwise to encase the wires. It's worked good for ~7 years now.

The crowding of the boots on the dist cap was a concern of mine too. They want to push off because air gets trapped under the boot as you push it on. Solution is to peel up an edge of the boot as you push it on, to release the trapped air. You sometimes hear the faint hiss as you're pushing on. I've never had a problem with my wires pushing off the cap in the 7 years i've used the Magnecor fat wires.

[Drisump]

I JUST did the job in conjunction with a 15,000 mile tune up so I was pushed for time. I did the same with the original Beru wire seperators (drilled them out to accommodate the much fatter Magnecors) "Peeling back the boot" is a good idea.... Thanks

[Jascha]

MarkRobinson:

Are you still making / selling the Beru wires for the 911 (3.2) ignition system...

Thanks

[howiee]

Just found this thread from a few years back. Any chance you are still making these wire sets?

[MarkRobinson]

Howdy, sorry I've been out of town: now back.

Yes, I make custom-only sets for the '85-89 Carreras, otherwise stock cars can order their sets through PelicanParts for either black or red sets.

If you're twin plug or a different ignition system, PM me.

Thanks!

Mark

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by scarceller

I'm looking to build (or buy) a aftermarket hi-perf set of spark wires for a 84-89 Carrera. I have a few questions I thought someone may be able to help with:

I know the early cars like the SC cars use different cables but they seem to only differ because of the connectors at the distributor. The SC cars use Male while the Carrera uses Female type connectors. Other than this difference are the cables similar? If they are you can find SC cables at much lower cost than the Carrera cables, so could you simply change the distributor connectors? Would this work?

Thanks in advance.

Hi Sal,

I made my own from a set I found off a 95 Dodge Intrepid 3.5 V6.






Here it is using HEI rated ( larger diameter ) cap and rotor from a Ford Taurus 3.8.




Extreme wet performance test and with plugs gapped at 0.060":


This may be too much of an "out of the box" solution for some, but can be a very rewarding learning experience, particularly, when I realized that resistor cables really do work, even better than stock ignition cables.


Cheers,

Joe

[howiee]

Hi Mark,
I have a 1983 Euro 911 and was looking to rebuild my wire set. I have taken apart 2 sets of Beru wires and have enough parts that are in excellent condition to try your wire solution. I'd love to get a set of just the wires with the M3 terminals Crimped on from you in red if that is at all possible.

Thanks

Howie

[redstack]

@MarkRobinson
So these are your plug wires as of today? Part #: P84-911-B

And you are only making them in black correct?

Two questions,
1. My dist cap lead to the coil has a damaged cover and on one other I sliced it to learn about the screw in connection. So I would need a couple of new / replacement covers. Where we I find these?
2. As mentioned in the previous post, my cover over the 4-5-6 wires is shot, cracking and falling off. Any good ideas for replacement of this sleeve?

[HaroldMHedge]

Bringing this back to life since it concerns the Carrera Spark Plug Wires.

While working on my 87 Carrera today one of the distributor plug wire connectors came loose. It does not look like the connection shown in Post 83 above.

Originally Posted by RichHawk

Resurrecting this thread from the grave:
(Mark are you still making these wires?)

Two details were never clearly answered, So I under took it to answer them myself.
1) Are the 1987 Carrera plug wire ends at the dizzy Beru "M3" screw terminals? YES definitively. Here are pics from my all original 1987 wires:





Second was what length do the 1987 Carrera wires need to be.
...….

This is a replacement Beru plug wire set. The spark plug end of the wires have the threaded connector shown above.



Has anyone else seen this connection and what do you think is the best way to reconnect it?

[HaroldMHedge]

Looked more closely in the boot and found more of the fitting.



The connection seems to be screw on at the cable and press fit to make the 90 degrees to the distributor cap.