I upgraded my 02 coupe (1340 miles) today to the Magnecor KV-85 8.5mm wires and NGK TR-55 plugs. Both are very nice products.

The Magnecors are configured exactly like the stock wires except the wire sheath is red. The boots look and fit identically like the stockers. I even reused the stock metal heat shields.

The NGK plugs look to be of much better construction than the stockers. They were gapped from the factory at .057". When I pulled the stock plugs, every single one was missing the puck that normally resides on the core overhang. Every single one. It was disconserting, to say the least. This was the reason I was changing them to begin with. I'd read so many posts where members were finding missing pucks that I decided to change my plugs. :rolleyes:

The install produced a minimum volume of blood and very few curses.:jester No threads were stripped. :) I have to thank the forum members who have recommended the Snap-on double-swivel spark plug socket. :cheers: It was the perfect tool for the job and worth every penny. The Magnecor's looked great when they were all in. I'd post pics but the server is still down.

Upon startup, the car idled smoother. The slight, occassional stumble I've had is gone. A test drive revealed no problems. :cheers:

Ed


[Modified by Patches, 7:17 PM 2/2/2002]

 

Good to hear the change was easy. Ordered those wires yesterday! :smash:

 

You'll like 'em! :cheers:

Ed

 

Must have been some detonation going on, huh Patches? All the ground electrode pucks missing at your low mileage. I have 21K on my 2001 coupe...guess I ought to pull a few plugs and see how the read.

Thanks for the input.

Good luck.
Mark

 

I did the identical plug + wire replacement a couple weeks ago on my '99 with 14k miles. I was lucky, all 8 plugs still had their pucks. But I am glad they are out of there now. The swap wasn't as bad as I had expected, the C4 was worse. Once the dirver' side was done, it was a breeze. The double swivel joint makes a big difference. Still had scraped hands, but that's part of the job.

 

I had missing pucks too.
I wonder what the resultant gap is when the puck flys off. :rolleyes:

100,000 miles huh.. I had em gone when I changed the plugs at 14,000.

 

I did the same upgrade in December at about 9k miles. The factory plugs (Denso of Japan) had no missing pucks. Let's see...Japanese plugs, Italian wheels...I thought they used the Goodyear runflats to keep the C5 "all american"?

Jim

 

Are you sure you have AC plugs? Most of the later cars (01 and 02) seem to have the Denso's and they don't have the puck. I pulled mine at 1,000 miles for the same reason. I have to admit I was releived to find the Denso's and not the AC Delco's installed. I am going with the NGK's when I re-install in April.

 

That's a relief. I did have the Denso's. But they had a very distinct little circle where the AC's have their puck and it appeared a puck had been attached and had come off. I checked each one closely after pulling it and they all had that circular marking. I'll check again to see if the pattern is a result of the HV arc.

Thanks vettenuts.

Ed

 

I just changed mine this weekend. My '02 w/4300 miles on it just started having a rough idle this past week. So I changed to the NGK and Taylor wires and now I have a smooth idle. The Stock plugs were not in good shape. It had some Napon Plugs, I have never heard of that one.

 

Explain the pucks????

Should we all change?? I have 4800 miles

 

{QUOTE]Explain the pucks????

Should we all change?? I have 4800 miles[/QUOTE]

The pucks are what Delco uses to conform to the idea of a platinum plug. Truly, they are normal plugs with a platinum disk or puck welded to the outer electrode.

It is always a good idea to change out the stock plugs IMO. You never know what you're gonna find...good or bad. It's cheap and a fun project anyway.

Thanks

 

I agree, change 'em now before the pucks disapear into the inner depths of your motor.

 

I was going to check the plugs this last weekend but I could not get the wires off. Do you pull them off by hand or do you use pliers or channel looks. I also break things by pulling too hard or twisting too much. So now when it does not just come off I get nervous that I'll break something. Do you grab the heat sheild or the rubber above it?

 

I grabbed the rubber with my fingers just above the heat shield and turned, wiggled and pulled at the same time until it popped off. If you can grab the heat shield, that would work also. They're fairly tough. I would imagine the longer they've been on, the more stubborn they may be to come off.

 

Patches, sounds like a good plan to change out the plugs. However, any special reason why you didn't just stick with the factory wires? :confused:

 

The factory wires are carbon based and also prone to fail more rapidly over silicon wires with engine heat.

Also for those that what to see a visual of the puck compared to a TR55....

 

Factory wires are just fine. I'm probably never going to race this thing so the Magnecors are overkill. I just figured I'd change them while I had them out and keep the stockers as spares.

 

Getting ready for a track day, I changed my stock plugs/wires out for TR55s at 30K miles.. Still had all 8 pucks, and the plugs actually looked fine.

With no racing, I think the stock plugs/wires are probably good for 100K miles.

Anyone wanting to do this, see Kewlbrez web site... It is a GREAT resource.

 

Four of them were missing pucks at 6000 miles on the 2000 :-(

Lets see....Delco plugs suck, Delco batteries suck,..... sounds like its a good idea to stay away from anything electronic made by Delco!