When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Joe. I'm pretty sure the OP isn't concerned about "the way it will run" without the nubs or retainer, because it obviously doesn't make a doodly-squat difference in performance. Some of us favor originality, myself included; he's lamenting the deviation in originality with the missing nubs.
My 85's born-with plug wires went bad with the car sitting in storage. It ran 4,500 miles in 10 days in July 2016 and didn't skip a beat. I didn't drive it again until April 2017 when I got in it to go to Vegas (300 miles one way) for an event. It was misfiring just putting down my street. I didn't have time to deal with it, so off I went. If I stayed out of it, it ran ok, if I had to lean on it, it broke up and misfired. I had 300 miles to get a feel for what could be wrong, and it acted like "wires", so when I got to the event, I ohmed them and found 3 with high resistance. I ordered a set from the Bullhead City FLAPS, put them on temporarily (left the originals in the holders) to get home, and changed them permanently at my leisure.
So I got 31 years out of my OEM wires.
I'm pretty sure my wires don't have the nubs either, but I re-installed the retainer without them. Best I could do to preserve as much originality as possible.
i hear ya, and to be truthful, i used to think like that, but as time goes on, to me, such things start to hold less and less value. my take - the world only needs so many museum pieces. don't get me wrong, i like originality but to a point. my rule on things is form, fit, and function, and those cap rings have little function. adhering to the strict letter of originality used to drive me nuts (besides costing me a lot of money). my 85 is a daily driver. i keep it clean and well maintained, and i drive it in all kinds of weather. it may not be 100% original, but it's close enough for me. i don't want it judged, and i don't need no stinking trophy. here's my L98 - i'm sure you could pick this thing apart, but you're one of the few. anyway, whatever floats your boat. as long as you're having fun, and that's what it's all about. peace....
Yep..they are identical to that. Im kinda bummed the new delco set doesnt have the nub for the cap ring.. that's going to bother me.
Im honestly debating on ohming the old ones out and cleaning them to reuse them...I'm weird like that..since the new ones are nubless.
i've been running after-market plug wires on my 85 for some 25+ years now without nubs and that cap ring. 140K miles w/o plug wire and cap ring issues. you're putting way too much thought into this. ...just my 2-cents.
i've been running after-market plug wires on my 85 for some 25+ years now without nubs and that cap ring. 140K miles w/o plug wire and cap ring issues. you're putting way too much thought into this. ...just my 2-cents.
Joe. I'm pretty sure the OP isn't concerned about "the way it will run" without the nubs or retainer, because it obviously doesn't make a doodly-squat difference in performance. Some of us favor originality, myself included; he's lamenting the deviation in originality with the missing nubs.
My 85's born-with plug wires went bad with the car sitting in storage. It ran 4,500 miles in 10 days in July 2016 and didn't skip a beat. I didn't drive it again until April 2017 when I got in it to go to Vegas (300 miles one way) for an event. It was misfiring just putting down my street. I didn't have time to deal with it, so off I went. If I stayed out of it, it ran ok, if I had to lean on it, it broke up and misfired. I had 300 miles to get a feel for what could be wrong, and it acted like "wires", so when I got to the event, I ohmed them and found 3 with high resistance. I ordered a set from the Bullhead City FLAPS, put them on temporarily (left the originals in the holders) to get home, and changed them permanently at my leisure.
So I got 31 years out of my OEM wires.
I'm pretty sure my wires don't have the nubs either, but I re-installed the retainer without them. Best I could do to preserve as much originality as possible.
Joe. I'm pretty sure the OP isn't concerned about "the way it will run" without the nubs or retainer, because it obviously doesn't make a doodly-squat difference in performance. Some of us favor originality, myself included; he's lamenting the deviation in originality with the missing nubs.
My 85's born-with plug wires went bad with the car sitting in storage. It ran 4,500 miles in 10 days in July 2016 and didn't skip a beat. I didn't drive it again until April 2017 when I got in it to go to Vegas (300 miles one way) for an event. It was misfiring just putting down my street. I didn't have time to deal with it, so off I went. If I stayed out of it, it ran ok, if I had to lean on it, it broke up and misfired. I had 300 miles to get a feel for what could be wrong, and it acted like "wires", so when I got to the event, I ohmed them and found 3 with high resistance. I ordered a set from the Bullhead City FLAPS, put them on temporarily (left the originals in the holders) to get home, and changed them permanently at my leisure.
So I got 31 years out of my OEM wires.
I'm pretty sure my wires don't have the nubs either, but I re-installed the retainer without them. Best I could do to preserve as much originality as possible.
i hear ya, and to be truthful, i used to think like that, but as time goes on, to me, such things start to hold less and less value. my take - the world only needs so many museum pieces. don't get me wrong, i like originality but to a point. my rule on things is form, fit, and function, and those cap rings have little function. adhering to the strict letter of originality used to drive me nuts (besides costing me a lot of money). my 85 is a daily driver. i keep it clean and well maintained, and i drive it in all kinds of weather. it may not be 100% original, but it's close enough for me. i don't want it judged, and i don't need no stinking trophy. here's my L98 - i'm sure you could pick this thing apart, but you're one of the few. anyway, whatever floats your boat. as long as you're having fun, and that's what it's all about. peace....
I went ahead and installed the new wires as a few of the originals are not going to work. But...with my sickness I might keep the original stuff..I know..why... it's funny..I have a 98 mustang drag car and an 84 rabbit race car and I'll use whatever it takes to keep them going including zip ties and jb weld..this corvette is all original with 77k miles and is from a family member that loved it and sadly passed away. I feel it's my duty to him to get it back into shape and drive it. Plus I like to keep things as engineers designed them.
But yes life is short..and better not to sweat the small stuff.
I replaced the original wires on my 84 and I kept them in a box. The second set gave up the ghost late last fall and I parked the car and ordered a set of AC Delco replacement spark plug wires. They are not an exact fit unfortunately, and some are too long and had to be routed somewhat awkwardly. At the end of the day they look nice and perform well, but I do miss having the original wires on the car. I've debated a lot over replacement parts because I prefer to have everything original. I've just come to to conclusion that many thing wear out and what can be rebuilt, will be rebuilt, and what must be replaced will be replaced.
from what i know about GM plug wires, each cylinder and each year, have a specific part number. original wires were ID'd with a cylinder number most likely as a production aid. time is money on an assembly line and the line techs don't need to second quess anything. when installing GM service replacement, you must compare lengths to originals or go by source data. some lengths are close to each other, and if you get things mixed up, it could be a nightmare. i've found GM replacements as well as some other brands are pretty much spot on, BUT they have to be routed per factory specs - any deviation will cause problems. if you're **** about routing, wires should fit with factory accuracy. i like taylor wires and found they fit L98's quite well.
i hear ya, and to be truthful, i used to think like that, but as time goes on, to me, such things start to hold less and less value. my take - the world only needs so many museum pieces. don't get me wrong, i like originality but to a point. my rule on things is form, fit, and function, and those cap rings have little function. adhering to the strict letter of originality used to drive me nuts (besides costing me a lot of money). my 85 is a daily driver. i keep it clean and well maintained, and i drive it in all kinds of weather. it may not be 100% original, but it's close enough for me. i don't want it judged, and i don't need no stinking trophy. here's my L98 - i'm sure you could pick this thing apart, but you're one of the few. anyway, whatever floats your boat. as long as you're having fun, and that's what it's all about. peace....
I just wanted to say that is an extremely clean engine bay! You are to be commended on achieving that. I would love to make mine that clean but alas I live off a dirt road and it would never stay that for more than a day or two.
i've been running after-market plug wires on my 85 for some 25+ years now without nubs and that cap ring. 140K miles w/o plug wire and cap ring issues. you're putting way too much thought into this. ...just my 2-cents.
Anyone out there wants to sell their old OE spark plug wires with the cylinder number printed on them. 1986
03-30-2024, 03:32 PM
