[Z06] If Your Run Headers and Burn Your Spark Plug Boots - There is a Fix
08-28-2014, 09:07 AM
#1
Melting Slicks
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If Your Run Headers and Burn Your Spark Plug Boots - There is a Fix
Gentlemen,
I run headers, and over the past six years I have burned the boots on my spark plug wires four times. Recently, I installed a new engine:
As part of the engine install I relocated my coils using the Katech coil relocation kit. Their kit supplies brackets and MSD spark plug wires. To help insulate the 600 degree silicone spark plugs boots from the heat of the headers, I installed ThermoTec heat socks as you can see in the picture above.
About 10 days ago I started to notice a part-throttle miss. Over the past I had noticed the same type of miss three times. The other three times it had been an indication of burned spark plug boots. So, I started pulling spark plug wires and here is what I found:
Everything looks fine in this view.
When you turn the wires over everything is not fine. These two wires come from cylinders #4 and #7. In spite of the added protection of the ThermoTec heat socks, the heat from the headers has burned through the 600 degree silicone boots. In the past I would have purchased two new wires, or a new wire set, installed them, and waited until the next time my engine started missing so I could replace them again.
Things are different now!
ACCEL, the makers of spark plugs and wires, has recently released spark plug wires with CERAMIC boots:
Unfortunately, ACCEL does not make a kit that works with the Katech coil relocation kit. So I called ACCEL and talked to one of their tech support personnel. He told me that if I purchased the ACCEL Universal 45 degree V8 wiring kit - 9002C, the Taylor Products boot kit - 46069, and the ACCEL wiring crimping tool - 170036, I could make up my own wire set. So I went to the Summit Racing web site and entered the part numbers he provided me and here is the result:
I made up eight of these wires, adding about 1-inch in length above what Katech provided, installed them, the miss is gone, and my spark plug wire boot future is much cooler.
-
I run headers, and over the past six years I have burned the boots on my spark plug wires four times. Recently, I installed a new engine:
As part of the engine install I relocated my coils using the Katech coil relocation kit. Their kit supplies brackets and MSD spark plug wires. To help insulate the 600 degree silicone spark plugs boots from the heat of the headers, I installed ThermoTec heat socks as you can see in the picture above.
About 10 days ago I started to notice a part-throttle miss. Over the past I had noticed the same type of miss three times. The other three times it had been an indication of burned spark plug boots. So, I started pulling spark plug wires and here is what I found:
Everything looks fine in this view.
When you turn the wires over everything is not fine. These two wires come from cylinders #4 and #7. In spite of the added protection of the ThermoTec heat socks, the heat from the headers has burned through the 600 degree silicone boots. In the past I would have purchased two new wires, or a new wire set, installed them, and waited until the next time my engine started missing so I could replace them again.
Things are different now!
ACCEL, the makers of spark plugs and wires, has recently released spark plug wires with CERAMIC boots:
Unfortunately, ACCEL does not make a kit that works with the Katech coil relocation kit. So I called ACCEL and talked to one of their tech support personnel. He told me that if I purchased the ACCEL Universal 45 degree V8 wiring kit - 9002C, the Taylor Products boot kit - 46069, and the ACCEL wiring crimping tool - 170036, I could make up my own wire set. So I went to the Summit Racing web site and entered the part numbers he provided me and here is the result:
I made up eight of these wires, adding about 1-inch in length above what Katech provided, installed them, the miss is gone, and my spark plug wire boot future is much cooler.
-
Last edited by Pumba; 01-28-2015 at 08:45 AM.
08-28-2014, 10:51 AM
#3
Melting Slicks
Great solution 
08-30-2014, 10:47 AM
#10
Team Owner
Never been impressed with the thermal boots. The factory metal shields have always worked better.
01-27-2015, 09:49 PM
#11
Instructor
Pumba - It's been a while now. Still loving the ACCEL wires? Anyone else jump on the ACCEL bandwagon? I think I may very soon. I burnt a set of wire in just under 2K miles.
01-27-2015, 10:31 PM
#12
Give Firecore50 wires a look before purchasing anything. If the Promod guys making 2000+ hp and a lot more heat than us use these and don't have problems, well then good enough for me. This is my 2nd set and they're great. Very solid and OEM boot design.
01-27-2015, 11:29 PM
#14
Pro Mechanic
Pro Mechanic
Taking a look at your blue header primaries and that you burned the boots on MSD wires....are you sure you're not either running a bit lean or your spark map is not quite right?
01-28-2015, 08:49 AM
#16
Melting Slicks
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At this time of the year my Z06 is in winter storage.
Before I put it away on the 1st of November the spark plug wires and boots were doing great.