I just did a plug and wire change on my LT4 and as you know, #8 was a blody sacrifice. I got a new set of MSD wires and measured & modded the stock looms to hold them like stock. My problem is, the #8 wire has a straight end boot, and is so long that it bends right up against the A/C box. Anybody else using the MSD wires have this problem? I have an extra wire with an angled tip that I'm thinking of changing to that wire, but I haven't tried to fit it on there yet. Why straight tips on #7&8 wires and angled on all others?

 

Yes,
Straight boot wont work there. Only a 90 angle boot. Straight is really more suited for number 7.I have been through 3 sets of the MSD 8.5mm wires in 7 years. I ended up getting the universal set with 90 degree boots and cutting them to length for nicer install.I use after market looms to hold the wires. The only real problem I have had with these wires is the fragile nature of the copper wire core breaking inside next to the boot on some due to multiple plug changes.I actually just recently chased a problem to a break in a wire following some poor dyno numbers. They only had 5k miles on them and a couple of plug changes. They don't tolerate a lot of pulling and twisting to remove. Use plenty of boot lube on install for easier removal in the future if necessary. I am considering going to Taylor wires to see if I have better luck with them next time.
Rick

 

I went with the Belden Super Blue 8 mm Premium Ignition Wires from NAPA. They have the O.E.M. bend, but the length is slightly longer than stock. I used the O.E.M. wire looms and holders, too.

 

Hard to get on...no kidding! I've never had such a hard time getting wires to "click" into place before. I use the boot lube, but the connectors are really tight on these things. I guess I'll try my 'boot-off, boot-On' trick on this wire and put on the angled end. I've got some silicon oil that I can inject into the boot that will let it slide off without tearing up the wire. I tried it on a couple of old wires to see how it would work and it did fine. I just think when you pay as much $$ to MSD for a set of wires that are supposed to be made for that engine, they should damn well fit!

 

How about posting the part number of the wiring set that's causing you the problem so we'll all know to steer clear.

Jake

 

all I did when changing the wires was to swap the # 6 and # 8 wires with the #5 & 7 wires. I works just fine that way. Then you wind up with the # 8 wire having a 90 deg boot.

 

I just installed MSD connectors, yes a pain in the culo but I got it in. Put some dielectric grease all around and maneuver your wrist. You did put dielectric grease on both ends, did you...? It does not mean because you see them in front of you that is the only way you can install them.

There is space from underneath, try, it work for me. How you think I tighten that bolt against the firewall?

I guess the "smart" one that engineered those and many others never seen inside the clam-hood

 

The part # on the box says: [32179 wire set. Chevy Corvette. LT1.V8 '92 -97] That should give a clue right there to their attention to detail, because the '97 was a C5 with an LS engine! The LT1 was still in some other stuff though but not the Vette. This set had an extra wire in it, a real short one that wouldn't fit anywhere, but it has an angled tip on it that I think I'll put on the #8 wire. The #6 wire is too short to switch with I think. I specifically asked if these would fit an LT4 and got the answer that they were made for that engine. They might fit the engine on an engine stand, but they don't fit very well in the car around all the accessorys! The only wire in the set that's long enough to fit there has a straight boot on it that jamms up against the A/C box. I guess that extra wire is a "extra parts wire".

 

When I installed my MSD wires, I called MSD and explained the problem and they sent me 3 90degree boots and a cutting tool and small crimper. All 90s work best on the LT1/4, especially if you have headers. When and if I have to replace the wires, I'll buy a roll of wire and the terminal ends separately. I now have a good crimping tool and cutter.

 

My biggest problem is that my car is 25 miles away from my house in a storage room. When I started this wire change, I pulled off one side at a time with the wire looms on it. I then laid out the new MSD wires side by side with the stock ones and worked on the looms so they would fit the MSD's just like the stock ones. #6 & 8 had straight boots on them, so that's how I put on the MSD's. I see the folly of that method now and will take a look at doing it your way when I go out there today. Most everything is still off the front of the engine anyway, as I'm pulling the front cover and tossing the water pump drive shaft in the dumpster. I got an electric pump so I'm eliminating a water leak on one end and an oil leak on the block side. I've got to loosen the Alt. & pwr. steerng bracket again to get clearance for the plug wires to pass through, but I think I can get it right this time. Thanks for the tip.

 

Just got back from spending the day with the car. I switched the wires around and the 90's fit 6&8 a lot better and the straight boots fit on the driver side with no problems. Thanks for that tip. When I originally laid them out, I did the Passenger side first using the stock wires as a template. I should have looked at the whole job a little closer first and I might have seen that problem before I got so tangled up with it. It would have been nice if MSD had put a note in the box. They made the wires and for the price, you'd think they could give a little tip on the proper placement for clearances. Figgured out how to move the PS pump forward without all the hassle I went to before also. I'm about to figgure out how to work on this thing. And I used to think a 427 was a tight fit in a Fairlane

 

Just finished installing new plugs and MSD wires on my '92. What a royal pain in the butt it was to do the install. This being my first Vette and the first time changing plugs/wires on one, I have to say, this job is twice as difficult on the C4's as it is on 4th gen LT1 Fbody's. Especially when it comes to attaching the wires to the driver's side optispark terminals. :o

In a nutshell, I'm really not impressed with MSD's "quality control" - at least in terms of their supposed "direct-fit" wire packages like this one for the C4. As someone mentioned earlier, the box boldy says "fits all 92-97 LT1 Corvettes". Apparently these wires also fit the first year LS1 as well

Some of the problems I had?

For starters, only 3 of the wires actually matched the length's of the original AC Delco's they were supposed to replace.

The remaining wires, were either way too long, or just barely long enough to reach. Some of them had to be stretched to their limit to fit, and consequently, are now much closer to the exhaust manifolds than what I'd like to see.
I switched the wires around back and forth to try and get a better fit with different plugs but that didn't help out much. At the end of the day, the MSD's simply didn't fit like the originals. Very disappointing considering how much they cost me ($130+ tax from Summit)

Worse yet, I'm short one wire (the 35" length with both straight ends on either side). Instead, MSD sent me 2 coil wires (one of which must be for an entirely different car 'cause one of the ends wont even fit on the optispark's terminal. . The one coil wire that does match, just barely reach's the coil from the optispark and is stretched to the limit just to get it to connect to both ends

Then there's the problem I had trying to push these wires into the plugs themselves and the opti's terminals. It was needlessly difficult and time consuming. The connectors on these things are just too damn tight!. You're supposed to hear 2 "clicks" which is the sign the wire is fully locked into place. Only on about half of them, was I able to push them in hard enough to hear those 2 clicks. The other half, I only managed to push hard enough to hear 1 click. I gave up on them 'cause my fingers were already numb from pushing on them so hard for so long. They seem to be tight, but I just never heard that second click ...

They don't fit the wire looms (I already knew that when I bought them but still, it would have been nice) and I now have to wait until next week or the week after until MSD sends me a new wire of the proper length since they sent me 2 coil wires. That's "IF" they send me one at all. (Summit's tech support put in the claim to MSD for me and we're awaiting a response back from MSD)

My advice to anybody looking to buy new wires? Avoid the MSD's. Avoid them like the plague. Taylor makes a great wire which, unlike the MSD's, actually fit the way they're supposed to. Not only in terms of their "stock" matching length's, but the fact that they also fit the stock wire looms. Oh, and you don't have to be Arnold Schwarzenegger to push them into the plugs.

I guess it serves me right for trying something "different" (MSD) when I could have just stayed with something I knew would work from the get go (Taylor).

I'll just have to learn from my mistake and move on.


- End of Rant

 

I used the Taylor Thunderbolts, red of course. No real issues in the fit. Straight boot was tight on #8 but it went on OK. The dielectric grease on the end of the boot opening is the trick.These also fit the OE looms. The OE wraping even worked on them.

 

I did the same thing as you guys, bought the MSD wires and had a real PITA of a time using them. What I did find out from the speed shop were I bought them, is that the straight boots are bendable. They are made to bend at different angels to accomodate different situation. I don't know if this is BS or not, but thats what he said.

 

I have been through several sets of Taylors and they always leak voltage within a year or two.

 

Ok, so you obviously don't care for them, that's cool. This is my first set so I guess I'll just have to wait and see how they do for me. I was just commenting on the boots and wire fit as in the OP.

 

No problem, I was just mentioning my experience w/Taylors in the past.

How did they fit? I may go with the Thunderbolts if they fit well out of the box. Same price as the AC-DELCO OEM replacments.

 

The fit was good. A couple were about 3/8" shorter than the AC Delco's that were on the car when I got it but that little bit really didn't affect anything. All in all I'm happy with them and my cuts are about well on my arms too.

 

Thanks!

Did they have all the correct boots?

The pass side looks easy but I think I may need a tetanus shot before trying the drivers side...

 

It was 2 straight boots and the rest were 90 degree bends just like the OE. The set came with no extra wires except for the coil. There were two to choose from. One was a 90 bend and the other was a 45 degree bend.