Plug wires/ cap and rotor
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 859
Likes: 8
Plug wires/ cap and rotor
I am about to do a complete tune up on my 85. I plan on buying plugs, wires, cap, rotor, pcv valve, filters, etc. My question is, would buying these parts from a parts store be sufficient? I work at a pep boys and receive a 20% discount, so it would be significantly cheaper than going to the dealer. However, I don't want to sacrifice quality or performance to save a few bucks. The brand that pb carries for wires/cap/rotor is borg warner. I haven't really heard much about them in terms of quality or performance. Are these good enough quality to use in my vette, or should I pay more and just go to the dealer? Thanks much.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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L98 only needs OE components, none of the expensive stuff. I would get Delco parts for everything and splurge only on the plug wires.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 5,146
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From: The Motor City
Originally Posted by gregm999
So do you think the borg warner cap/rotor will be fine, or should I go to the dealer and go with delco?
I agree w/delco but I looked at price, around here the stock cap was almost same cost as aftermarket (approx.$27.w/rotor). Pertronix, msd, accel etc. (brass terminal, high tech. plastic?) are all the same price, and IMO all made in china, so it becomes color (coil, dust cover etc. are direct fit).
The other issue with the aftermarkets is almost all have the clamp down screw, so if yours has the straight screw down this would need to be modified.
The wires however are different MSD's, taylors 8.5 cost around $80. The stock type of system is actually (less wires), good and can support a mild built sbc.
Last edited by mseven; Jan 22, 2006 at 09:15 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 17,298
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From: The Top of Utah
The BWD parts are plenty good. Borg Warner markets a set of plug wires that have a spiral wound metallic core. I forget their name for them. They are excellent wires. You can spend a whole lot more than the than what the BWD parts cost, and end up receiving nothing more.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 859
Likes: 8
Originally Posted by CFI-EFI
The BWD parts are plenty good. Borg Warner markets a set of plug wires that have a spiral wound metallic core. I forget their name for them. They are excellent wires. You can spend a whole lot more than the than what the BWD parts cost, and end up receiving nothing more.
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Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 635
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From: Cambria CA
any oppinions on if you would go to a dealership or an indipendant store to do a tune-up?
dealer=more $$$ probably? but they might know more... possibly... Just need some oppinions.
Edit: what would a full tune-up cost generally? i've heard $300-400$ is this correct, just to change plugs/wires/cap/rotor?
dealer=more $$$ probably? but they might know more... possibly... Just need some oppinions.
Edit: what would a full tune-up cost generally? i've heard $300-400$ is this correct, just to change plugs/wires/cap/rotor?
Last edited by Shawn_65; Jan 22, 2006 at 09:07 PM.
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Racer
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From: Tucson, AZ. L98-85 AUTO COUPE: 120k MILES: daily driver. SOUND OFF IF YOU'VE BEEN THERE. Ex-Jumpin' Junky-82nd Airborne-2/505 PIR: 1st ID-1/16th Inf: Recon Marine Retread. GOD BLESS GRUNTS.
i did the same thing a while ago and decided that for the price, i would try the hypertech-dui, cap, coil and rotor combo. the car starts very quickly now, and as far as i'm concerned it was definitely worth the ecomomical extra bucks. i believe it was around $75 from summit. as i remember--a cap and rotor were running around $40 bucks by themselves.
frog.
frog.
Last edited by parafrog; Jan 23, 2006 at 05:45 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: The Top of Utah
Originally Posted by parafrog
i did the same thing a while ago and decided that for the price, i would try the hypertech-dui, cap, coil and rotor combo. the car starts very quickly now, and as far as i'm concerned it was definitely worth the ecomomical extra bucks.
frog.
frog.
RACE ON!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: The Motor City
I am really not sure why there is a need, if you are spinning the motor up and over 5500+(modded out ) I could see maybe a coil swap. The stock peices are pretty well balanced. The brass terminals allow some easier clean-up over allum. but the plugs, wires etc, can only use what they can handle.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 252
Likes: 1
From: Troy Illinois
If you get a 20% discount go with the Pep-boys. Just get their higher quality parts. Get the best plug wires you can, I think they were the hardest tune-up item to replace. Use a plug socket and an open end wrench to remove and tighten #8 plug. Good luck and enjoy!