plugs, wires and distributor question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 108
From: Ohio
plugs, wires and distributor question
hey everyone
may be a dumb question but... As I am trying to shore up my 1985 with fresh fluids and a tune up - I noticed people seem to change their plug wires when they change plugs - ? does that seem to be the norm for these?
I noticed the plug wires that I have on the car are msd brand -so I am assuming the po changed them out at some point. I was going to change plugs, distributor and rotor (plugs ac r43ts?) is it necessary to swap out the wires also?
also - are the ac plugs r43ts the way to go for the 85?
thanks
Sean
may be a dumb question but... As I am trying to shore up my 1985 with fresh fluids and a tune up - I noticed people seem to change their plug wires when they change plugs - ? does that seem to be the norm for these?
I noticed the plug wires that I have on the car are msd brand -so I am assuming the po changed them out at some point. I was going to change plugs, distributor and rotor (plugs ac r43ts?) is it necessary to swap out the wires also?
also - are the ac plugs r43ts the way to go for the 85?
thanks
Sean
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,644
Likes: 144
From: Connecticut
My 84 won't look like your vette, but it's been converted to carb, did the spark plugs and wires since who knows how old they were, and were easy and cheap to do, I used the AC Delco replacements for the spark plugs.
My wires looked dirty, but okay, took them out and sure enough (where it couldn't be seen) they were cracked up, one was so bad it was ripped about 6 inches the rubber covering completely ruined, none of it could be seen as it was on the underside of where the wire was ran, if you don't replace them give them a good look over
never hurts.
My wires looked dirty, but okay, took them out and sure enough (where it couldn't be seen) they were cracked up, one was so bad it was ripped about 6 inches the rubber covering completely ruined, none of it could be seen as it was on the underside of where the wire was ran, if you don't replace them give them a good look over
never hurts.
Last edited by BrandensBeast; Sep 24, 2016 at 05:04 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 11,470
Likes: 764
(my 2-cents, FWIW) -- some folks say plug wires are good for 100K miles, some say, "if it ain't broke...," but I look at these things from a "time" standpoint. an 85 would be over 30 years old and original plug wires, especially the insulation, most likely have seen hundreds of heat cycles. plug wires are cheap, so why not change them? it may, or may not help, but it certainly won't hurt. if you do not want OE delco, any premium brand will suffice. my personal, aftermarket choice is taylor spiro-pro, 8mm silicone. I usually change them out about every 10 years or so. since you seem to have a quality replacement set, and if they appear to be in good condition, no need to replace them at this point, unless you just want to establish a maintenance baseline.
for plugs, I bought and installed NGK G-power platinum's in my 85 (three set's over the years). I change them out about every 50K miles. don't seem to have ever had any issues.
for the cap and rotor, I've been using ACCEL products now for some 20 years -
for plugs, I bought and installed NGK G-power platinum's in my 85 (three set's over the years). I change them out about every 50K miles. don't seem to have ever had any issues.
for the cap and rotor, I've been using ACCEL products now for some 20 years -
Last edited by Joe C; Sep 24, 2016 at 07:39 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 108
From: Ohio
thanks everyone - I will give them a good going over to make sure, but I am leaning towards a replacement to establish a baseline for all of my regular maintenance type stuff. I was looking at some of the delco sets from ecklers and corvette central - they have packaged all of that together - we'll see - I will check the brands mentioned
thanks
Sean
thanks
Sean
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 108
From: Ohio
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,394
Likes: 2,741
OP - I believe that if the wires there now are routed correctly and the correct retainers are used to anchor them I'd save the money.
What are the details printed on the MSD wire? If it's a higher end product I'd certainly consider not tossing them. You don't need "new wires" to establish a maintenance base. You could spend $50 and maybe end up with a LESSER PRODUCT.
Joe C should be able to supply you a couple snapshots of correct routing and retention.
What are the details printed on the MSD wire? If it's a higher end product I'd certainly consider not tossing them. You don't need "new wires" to establish a maintenance base. You could spend $50 and maybe end up with a LESSER PRODUCT.
Joe C should be able to supply you a couple snapshots of correct routing and retention.
Last edited by WVZR-1; Sep 25, 2016 at 08:08 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 108
From: Ohio
My 84 won't look like your vette, but it's been converted to carb, did the spark plugs and wires since who knows how old they were, and were easy and cheap to do, I used the AC Delco replacements for the spark plugs.
My wires looked dirty, but okay, took them out and sure enough (where it couldn't be seen) they were cracked up, one was so bad it was ripped about 6 inches the rubber covering completely ruined, none of it could be seen as it was on the underside of where the wire was ran, if you don't replace them give them a good look over never hurts.
My wires looked dirty, but okay, took them out and sure enough (where it couldn't be seen) they were cracked up, one was so bad it was ripped about 6 inches the rubber covering completely ruined, none of it could be seen as it was on the underside of where the wire was ran, if you don't replace them give them a good look over
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,058
Likes: 108
From: Ohio
OP - I believe that if the wires there now are routed correctly and the correct retainers are used to anchor them I'd save the money.
What are the details printed on the MSD wire? If it's a higher end product I'd certainly consider not tossing them. You don't need "new wires" to establish a maintenance base. You could spend $50 and maybe end up with a LESSER PRODUCT.
Joe C should be able to supply you a couple snapshots of correct routing and retention.
What are the details printed on the MSD wire? If it's a higher end product I'd certainly consider not tossing them. You don't need "new wires" to establish a maintenance base. You could spend $50 and maybe end up with a LESSER PRODUCT.
Joe C should be able to supply you a couple snapshots of correct routing and retention.