yup replace em...
Plug wire question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 403
Likes: 7
From: Space Coast Florida
Plug wire question
Well after replacing the water pump that decided to loose a bearing and spray everything with antifreeze the engine decide to turn into a V7 and then a V6.. I think the spark plug wires are the culprit because when you tap them and arrange them perfectly they fire right up..
All electrical ignition parts are at least 10+ years old if not original.. What should I replace them with or how could I get a couple of more months out of them just to get through winter? I did take the chrome housings off of the wires if that makes a difference. All help appreciated.
PS Thanks community for getting me this far, so far the 74' will move and stop (no back brakes yet but getting there). Not much but its a lot better then when I started!
All electrical ignition parts are at least 10+ years old if not original.. What should I replace them with or how could I get a couple of more months out of them just to get through winter? I did take the chrome housings off of the wires if that makes a difference. All help appreciated.
PS Thanks community for getting me this far, so far the 74' will move and stop (no back brakes yet but getting there). Not much but its a lot better then when I started!
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 6
From: springfield ohio
I would use atleast 8mm silicone wires or better.
You may want to do at least a basic tuneup on it with stock type parts
with new plugs, wires, cap, rotor button, and points if you can
swing it. If the car is not running right and your still driving it
you could be doing it more harm than good.
Hope this helps.
You may want to do at least a basic tuneup on it with stock type parts
with new plugs, wires, cap, rotor button, and points if you can
swing it. If the car is not running right and your still driving it
you could be doing it more harm than good.
Hope this helps.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
I agree with riggs74. Change the plug wires [and any other old/worn-out ignition parts] NOW. Trying to get a little more life out of 'dead' stuff can only cause trouble. New C3's didn't have anything special for plug wires...but they weren't cracked and leaking juice to nearby metal. Buy a decent set of replacement wires (from a decent auto parts place, please...not one that sells cr@p). If the rest of the system is also 10 years old, replace the dist. cap, rotor, points, condenser, and plugs. Consider it an early "Christmas" present from you to your car! {it will thank you for it...}
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 403
Likes: 7
From: Space Coast Florida
Yea I'm sure it'll enjoy them. I wouldn't worry too much, It's not on road just driving it from shed which is top of driveway to house garage about a minute down hill. Plus if I see low rpms I just put it back. So I'm hoping nothing bad will come of it. Figured a tune up was in order, just didn't know to what extent. Thanks guys.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
It sounds like you do need to replace the wires. If you can move them around, and they change the way the car runs, then I dont think that you can patch them up for a couple of more months.
And a helpful hint when you do replace them, change them one at a time. If you pull them all off at once you may have a problem putting them back in the correct firing order. That has been done before, and leads to a whole new thread on how to correct the problem.
kdf
And a helpful hint when you do replace them, change them one at a time. If you pull them all off at once you may have a problem putting them back in the correct firing order. That has been done before, and leads to a whole new thread on how to correct the problem.
kdf
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 403
Likes: 7
From: Space Coast Florida
But yes, found a crack in one of the bad ones so I'll be replacing away.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,652
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
A common mistake that you may find here on the forum is that the replacement of the wires for the firing order is correct, but that the position of the wires in the cap was done wrong. People that start on this project sometimes install the replacement wires off by 1 postion or tower on the distributor cap. That leads to all sorts of problems and questions.
Glad to hear that you have the manual. Those come in handy for working on the cars.
Good luck in getting this fixed.
kdf
Glad to hear that you have the manual. Those come in handy for working on the cars.
Good luck in getting this fixed.
kdf