Plugs & wires.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,484
Likes: 1
From: Everyday you must choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Fredericktown, OH
Plugs & wires.
Everything on the car seems to be working great at 43K, but curious when I should get after the plugs and wires. I beleive the wires are original, no clue about the plugs since I haven't had the car that long.
Would probably go with the Taylor wires based on what I have read. Not sure about the plugs - any thoughts?
Would probably go with the Taylor wires based on what I have read. Not sure about the plugs - any thoughts?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 7
Re: Plugs & wires. (LT-4 CE)
I think a good rule of thumb is about 50k on the wires, there is a lot of heat near them. Some people say how much of a pain it is to change them but once you do it a few times its fairly easy.
I run standard bosch platinums w/TPIS 8mm on my LT-1 and everything works fine. I had to make some custom brakets but only because of my Headers and how things needed to be routed
I run standard bosch platinums w/TPIS 8mm on my LT-1 and everything works fine. I had to make some custom brakets but only because of my Headers and how things needed to be routed
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Re: Plugs & wires. (LT-4 CE)
The OEM spark plugs were AC Type 41-943 gapped at .050. These are platinum tip plugs rated for 100k miles. From an investigation I did a while back I recall this plug was only used on 1996 Corvettes, both LT1 & LT4. This has always made be a little leary of plugs made by others (Bosch, NGK, etc) that are applied to 1996 engines and other years as well.
There have been many reports on the forum of the platinum tips falling off these plugs, which of course results in a larger gap stressing wires and the OPTISPARK. I was going to pull my plugs and inspect/change them out but could not decide on replacement. I like the oem idea, but not if the tips will fall off again. I am at 30k on my car, mostly highway cruising.
If the wires are red, they are probably original.
Do a visual check, looking for any cracks or arcing. Run the engine in the dark & watch for arcing. Measure the resistance of each wire, per the GM Service Manual it should be less than 30K.
There have been many reports on the forum of the platinum tips falling off these plugs, which of course results in a larger gap stressing wires and the OPTISPARK. I was going to pull my plugs and inspect/change them out but could not decide on replacement. I like the oem idea, but not if the tips will fall off again. I am at 30k on my car, mostly highway cruising.
If the wires are red, they are probably original.
Do a visual check, looking for any cracks or arcing. Run the engine in the dark & watch for arcing. Measure the resistance of each wire, per the GM Service Manual it should be less than 30K.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,365
Likes: 3
From: Huntsville AL
Re: Plugs & wires. (Ruby6spd)
What if you have less than 50k on the wires and plugs, but the car is still 10 years old? I have a 94 that has about 39.5k on the odometer, but I am considering changing out plugs and wires.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Re: Plugs & wires. (HammerDown)
My 94 only had 16,000 miles on it in January, when I changed the plugs and wires. I don't know if they really needed to be changed. But, I had the engine apart for a heads/cam upgrade, and it seemed like a good time to do the change.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: edmonton ab
Re: Plugs & wires. (STL94LT1)
for good performance change the following: this is proven on my 89
1: Accell wire 8.8. coustom fit part # 8866
2: Accell Brute thunder HEI Supercoil Part # 140015( whit e & red wire)
3: Accell spark Module Part # 353663
4: always replace pick up coil ACdelco part# d1945-or part#1977207 depending on vin id
5: your choice platium plugs/ irdium works well
6: retime to exactly 6' before TDC
has increased starting time and performance, including better mpg, more power.. also if you can remove air pump...helps significately
check tis out:
1: Accell wire 8.8. coustom fit part # 8866
2: Accell Brute thunder HEI Supercoil Part # 140015( whit e & red wire)
3: Accell spark Module Part # 353663
4: always replace pick up coil ACdelco part# d1945-or part#1977207 depending on vin id
5: your choice platium plugs/ irdium works well
6: retime to exactly 6' before TDC
has increased starting time and performance, including better mpg, more power.. also if you can remove air pump...helps significately
check tis out:
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 4
From: Hinckley Ohio
Re: Plugs & wires. (LT4BUD)
By the way, red wires were specific to the LT4. LT1 had black wires.
I don't know what brands are available in red, but I think it would be a good touch to keep red wires which were part of the original LT4 package to distinquish it as such.
I don't know what brands are available in red, but I think it would be a good touch to keep red wires which were part of the original LT4 package to distinquish it as such.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 3,570
Likes: 3
From: Austin, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Houston, Dallas, Hong Kong, Elgin, etc.. Texas
Re: Plugs & wires. (LT-4 CE)
The wires if original will have the cylinder number printed on the wire.
GM Delco sells replacement red LT4 wires but they don't have the cylinder number printed on them.
GM Delco sells replacement red LT4 wires but they don't have the cylinder number printed on them.