Braided spark plug wires
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
Likes: 962
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
There's two reasons I'm not a big fan of the braid covered wires. The first is that the external braiding forms the equivalent of one plate of a large capacitor, and the plug wire internal conductor forms the other plate. This means that the ignition coil has to charge up a large capacitor to a high voltage before the plug can actually fire. This just slows up the high voltage ramp, allowing any sparkplug carbon fouling or deposits to leak away the coil energy during the high voltage ramp up, reducing the net energy delivered to the plug. Is this a problem? Usually not, but I'm not a big fan of things that reduce the efficiency of a component.
The second thing I'm not a big fan of with those wires is that if there is any marginal insulation anyplace in the length of the wire, the spark only has to take a short jump to ground out against the braid. Does this happen a lot? I don't think so, but again, I don't like stuff that increases my chances of having problems somewhere down the road.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
Like some of the previous posters, I've had good luck with the Taylor spiral wound wires.
There's two reasons I'm not a big fan of the braid covered wires. The first is that the external braiding forms the equivalent of one plate of a large capacitor, and the plug wire internal conductor forms the other plate. This means that the ignition coil has to charge up a large capacitor to a high voltage before the plug can actually fire. This just slows up the high voltage ramp, allowing any sparkplug carbon fouling or deposits to leak away the coil energy during the high voltage ramp up, reducing the net energy delivered to the plug. Is this a problem? Usually not, but I'm not a big fan of things that reduce the efficiency of a component.
The second thing I'm not a big fan of with those wires is that if there is any marginal insulation anyplace in the length of the wire, the spark only has to take a short jump to ground out against the braid. Does this happen a lot? I don't think so, but again, I don't like stuff that increases my chances of having problems somewhere down the road.
There's two reasons I'm not a big fan of the braid covered wires. The first is that the external braiding forms the equivalent of one plate of a large capacitor, and the plug wire internal conductor forms the other plate. This means that the ignition coil has to charge up a large capacitor to a high voltage before the plug can actually fire. This just slows up the high voltage ramp, allowing any sparkplug carbon fouling or deposits to leak away the coil energy during the high voltage ramp up, reducing the net energy delivered to the plug. Is this a problem? Usually not, but I'm not a big fan of things that reduce the efficiency of a component.
The second thing I'm not a big fan of with those wires is that if there is any marginal insulation anyplace in the length of the wire, the spark only has to take a short jump to ground out against the braid. Does this happen a lot? I don't think so, but again, I don't like stuff that increases my chances of having problems somewhere down the road.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
I have used the Taylor Spiral Core wires on a number of vehicles and been very pleased with the results. They are very easy to install and fit to the exact length you need. That way, you're not having to find some place to hide the extra length, which always seems to get in the way of the normal Corvette shielding.
Good luck... GUSTO
Pro
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 722
Likes: 58
From: Karlsruhe (Germany)
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 156
Likes: 25
I was planing on using them with my SB & point distributor (74) because it has a blower going on it and theirs not room for the shielding.I bought a lot of parts 20 some years ago and been digging them out as I get deeper in to it.
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Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 39
Likes: 1
From: Ontario Canada
I have a 69- 390- 427 also Motor has some upgrades and MSD. I couldn t believe the diff. in performance when I changed the wires to 8mm accel. The braided wires were not old maybe 3 years and 2000 miles. I keep the braided in a box just to say I have them .Todays stuff is just way better
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
I have a 69- 390- 427 also Motor has some upgrades and MSD. I couldn t believe the diff. in performance when I changed the wires to 8mm accel. The braided wires were not old maybe 3 years and 2000 miles. I keep the braided in a box just to say I have them .Todays stuff is just way better
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
When the braided wires were installed on the 68 and 69 big blocks it was for noise suppression only, not performance. If you ordered a car with a radio you got braided wires and without a radio, normal wires. I have them on my stock 69 L36 and they look kind of cool but as far as performance they are probably more of a hindrance than anything else.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
When the braided wires were installed on the 68 and 69 big blocks it was for noise suppression only, not performance. If you ordered a car with a radio you got braided wires and without a radio, normal wires. I have them on my stock 69 L36 and they look kind of cool but as far as performance they are probably more of a hindrance than anything else.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 407
Likes: 12
From: Maywood NJ
Ok i called up Summit Racing and spoke to a tech. I am or was ( still debating ) on Taylor Street Series Full Metal Jacket HEI Ignition wires. Model or Item # 91004 . They are about $180. And the tech told me these braided wires are high performance. And never ever heard of someone saying that they had a grounding issue or any other kind of problem with them. Maybe if u looked them up on Summit Racing u could tell me more about them. Like i said i do love the way braided spark plugs look and he did say that THESE ARE PERFORMANCE TOO. Also he said these are the same as the Spiral wound except braided and chrome plated boots for heat shielding. Check them out ok? Tell me what you think..
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 156
Likes: 25
Ok i called up Summit Racing and spoke to a tech. I am or was ( still debating ) on Taylor Street Series Full Metal Jacket HEI Ignition wires. Model or Item # 91004 . They are about $180. And the tech told me these braided wires are high performance. And never ever heard of someone saying that they had a grounding issue or any other kind of problem with them. Maybe if u looked them up on Summit Racing u could tell me more about them. Like i said i do love the way braided spark plugs look and he did say that THESE ARE PERFORMANCE TOO. Also he said these are the same as the Spiral wound except braided and chrome plated boots for heat shielding. Check them out ok? Tell me what you think..
I sent Taylor an email yesterday but haven't heard back yet on these old wires.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
No. I have never used a wire where you could actually feel the performance difference between sets unless the wires are bad or burnt. I think the difference between well made wires using top grade materials and cheap wires is not performance but reliability and length of service.