Spark Plug Wires
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 737
Likes: 4
From: Decatur Alabama
Spark Plug Wires
..want to replace my wires with some with color...who makes good aftermarket wires? also, i've heard it's worth the money to let a shop with a lift do the replacement....true? thanx. 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 18,447
Likes: 14
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14
Just replacing the wires is not so bad. If you are replacing the spark plugs as well, then we are talking serious pain in the a**
good luck
good luck
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,475
Likes: 270
From: Kingman AZ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Cruise-In VIII
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
I have used Taylor wires and like them. If you are fairly mechanicaly competent (i.e. can find your butt with both hands) you should be able to do this. Either replace one at a time or label them so you get the new ones connected to the correct plugs. Otherwise it will run like an old Model T. Try www.summitracing.com and use their on line catalog or order own catalog (great for extended bathroom reads). 
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
I put the red Taylor wires on my '96 LT1, but someone else will do it next time. You have to get under the car to do some of them. And you don't just push these wires on - they have to be seated properly in the distributor. You can feel the "snap" when they are seated. Passenger side is just normal PITA, but driver side is MAJOR PITA.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
I went with Taylor Spiro Pro's as well. No complaints here.
To do the plug wires you'll need to remove the belt and belt tensioner. Then you'll have access to both sides of the optispark. The GM Service Manual is very helpful in that it gives excellent drawings of the proper wire routing. That part is a mind bender. The existing wire trees will hold the Taylor 8mm wires any larger and you need new larger size trees.
Fitting the coil wire to the opti is a bit tricky, I found an 11-inch pair of needle nose pliers helps to seat it. Other than that, take your time. Hey your in there might consider the plugs too. I went with NGK Iridiums.
Edit: I don't agree with the notion you have to get under the car. The driver's side is only difficult to the point of routing the wires so the lay in there correctly. If you have the center and rear section of the wheel liner removed you have easy access to that side. Passenger side is straight forward. I believe it is a double click when they seat to the opti.
To do the plug wires you'll need to remove the belt and belt tensioner. Then you'll have access to both sides of the optispark. The GM Service Manual is very helpful in that it gives excellent drawings of the proper wire routing. That part is a mind bender. The existing wire trees will hold the Taylor 8mm wires any larger and you need new larger size trees.
Fitting the coil wire to the opti is a bit tricky, I found an 11-inch pair of needle nose pliers helps to seat it. Other than that, take your time. Hey your in there might consider the plugs too. I went with NGK Iridiums.
Edit: I don't agree with the notion you have to get under the car. The driver's side is only difficult to the point of routing the wires so the lay in there correctly. If you have the center and rear section of the wheel liner removed you have easy access to that side. Passenger side is straight forward. I believe it is a double click when they seat to the opti.
Last edited by 93JetJocky; Feb 4, 2005 at 01:04 PM.
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by 93JetJocky
Edit: I don't agree with the notion you have to get under the car. The driver's side is only difficult to the point of routing the wires so the lay in there correctly. If you have the center and rear section of the wheel liner removed you have easy access to that side. Passenger side is straight forward. I believe it is a double click when they seat to the opti.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 721
Likes: 10
From: Irvine CA
I think your '96 is very close to my '95 6-speed.
The best investment is a six pack for a buddy who has done it before. I didn't consider the plugs on my '95 to be that bad. I think I guessed right most of the time. It still took quire a while. The wires were a PITA. They normally change color from the blood sweat and tears that get spilt on them. The key for me was the belt tensioner (as its states above). The other key is to loosen the power steering pump so you can move it about 1/2 forward to slide the wires in and out. Most of the time I spent on the project was spent just staring at it. Took about 8 hours the first time for the wires with most of the time spent staring at it. The second time I did the wires it was a one hour job. (that's why you need the friend who did it before)
Also, for me, almost all the wire looms broke when I worked the wires in and out of them.
Entire job is done from the top.
The best investment is a six pack for a buddy who has done it before. I didn't consider the plugs on my '95 to be that bad. I think I guessed right most of the time. It still took quire a while. The wires were a PITA. They normally change color from the blood sweat and tears that get spilt on them. The key for me was the belt tensioner (as its states above). The other key is to loosen the power steering pump so you can move it about 1/2 forward to slide the wires in and out. Most of the time I spent on the project was spent just staring at it. Took about 8 hours the first time for the wires with most of the time spent staring at it. The second time I did the wires it was a one hour job. (that's why you need the friend who did it before)
Also, for me, almost all the wire looms broke when I worked the wires in and out of them.
Entire job is done from the top.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
From: Belews Creek north carolina
St. Jude Donor '05
Originally Posted by VictorRussell'92
Msd
the wires and the plugs are a pita. i found on the drivers side which i thought was the worst side for both was easier to take the center section of wheelhousing out and unbolt the asr and move it out of the way awhole lot less to hassle with
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
Yep, it'll come out, but there's LOTS of stuff bolted to it. I like yellow95s idea. Just plan on spending a lot of time, a bag of 4-letter words, a 12 pack of beer, half a dozen band-aids, and LOTS of patience. It's a PITA, but doable. About the comments about getting under it - I did, but probably could have avoided it by following what yellow95 said. Please let us know how it went after you are done.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
Yeah I didn't let on about those items, I figure everyone has to learn that part by themselves.
The part about sitting and staring at it for a quite a while is likewise true, which one goes where and on top of who...
The part about sitting and staring at it for a quite a while is likewise true, which one goes where and on top of who...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 129
From: NOVA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07
Originally Posted by LT1SPUD
..want to replace my wires with some with color...who makes good aftermarket wires? also, i've heard it's worth the money to let a shop with a lift do the replacement....true? thanx.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,593
Likes: 0
From: Mobile AL
St. Jude Donor '05
BTW LT1SPUD, if you decide to go ahead, I highly recommend you do the driver's side first. The passenger side will seem a whole lot easier, and you'll be attacking the most difficult part while you're fresh. Good luck whatever you decide.
