Spark Plug Wires?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
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From: Clymer PA
Spark Plug Wires?
I am swapping over to headers, cat resonators, x-pipe and Z06 titanium mufflers. I purchased a set of plug wires to change while I am doing the swap (my other ones have 100,000 miles on them). The GM "Red" plug wires were the ones that were recommended. My plug wires are red, have the Chevy symbol stamped on them and are 7mm (part #12495519).
Now I know plug wires don't add horsepower but I was always under the impression that you wanted bigger insulated wires. Did I get the right plug wires or should I have gone with MSD, Taylor or Accel? I am also changing plugs while I am at it NGK TR55s were recommended. What's the difference between Iridium & Platinum plugs?
Now I know plug wires don't add horsepower but I was always under the impression that you wanted bigger insulated wires. Did I get the right plug wires or should I have gone with MSD, Taylor or Accel? I am also changing plugs while I am at it NGK TR55s were recommended. What's the difference between Iridium & Platinum plugs?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
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From: Vancouver Washington
I am swapping over to headers, cat resonators, x-pipe and Z06 titanium mufflers. I purchased a set of plug wires to change while I am doing the swap (my other ones have 100,000 miles on them). The GM "Red" plug wires were the ones that were recommended. My plug wires are red, have the Chevy symbol stamped on them and are 7mm (part #12495519).
Now I know plug wires don't add horsepower but I was always under the impression that you wanted bigger insulated wires. Did I get the right plug wires or should I have gone with MSD, Taylor or Accel? I am also changing plugs while I am at it NGK TR55s were recommended. What's the difference between Iridium & Platinum plugs?
Now I know plug wires don't add horsepower but I was always under the impression that you wanted bigger insulated wires. Did I get the right plug wires or should I have gone with MSD, Taylor or Accel? I am also changing plugs while I am at it NGK TR55s were recommended. What's the difference between Iridium & Platinum plugs?
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The GMPP red wires are very good.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Clymer PA
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
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From: Vancouver Washington
I would purchase the cool sox. They protect most of full length of the wire as well as the plug rubber and your new headers are going to put out a lot of heat. The metal boot shields are mainly for radio static, not heat protection. That said I should mention that I never turn the radio on, so . . . . . . . . . . .
Last edited by Last C5; Jan 25, 2016 at 02:38 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
I would also go with TR5 and not TR55. This will reduce the plug gap to 0.045". The second "5" in the part number designates the larger gap. The TR5/TR55 are copper core plugs. Great plug but may not last 100K miles.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Clymer PA
Tech Contributor
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From: Anthony TX
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MONSTER THICK plug wires don't do any thing to your engine except look like "MONSTER THICK plug wires "
These wires are as good as it gets for what you need:
I use the shields.
Why not..
Any plug wires that you get, if they lay against the header, they will burn. If the wire is close, YES, cool socks will help protect the wire.
The GM wires fit the coils very good! They properly SNAP in to the tower connector inside the tower.
I have friends that have MSD wires and everyone have very soft boots that get damaged easily.
BC
These wires are as good as it gets for what you need:
I use the shields.
Why not.. Any plug wires that you get, if they lay against the header, they will burn. If the wire is close, YES, cool socks will help protect the wire.
The GM wires fit the coils very good! They properly SNAP in to the tower connector inside the tower.
I have friends that have MSD wires and everyone have very soft boots that get damaged easily.
BC
Last edited by Bill Curlee; Jan 26, 2016 at 01:48 PM.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 4,449
Likes: 409
From: Portland OR
MONSTER THICK plug wires don't do any thing to your engine except look like "MONSTER THICK plug wires "
These wires are as good as it gets for what you need:
I use the shields. Why not..
Any plug wires that you get, if they lay against the header, they will burn. If the wire is close, YES, cool socks will help protect the wire.
The GM wires fit the coils very good! They properly SNAP in to the tower connector inside the tower.
I have friends that have MSD wires and everyone have very soft boots that get damaged easily.
BC
These wires are as good as it gets for what you need:
I use the shields.
Why not.. Any plug wires that you get, if they lay against the header, they will burn. If the wire is close, YES, cool socks will help protect the wire.
The GM wires fit the coils very good! They properly SNAP in to the tower connector inside the tower.
I have friends that have MSD wires and everyone have very soft boots that get damaged easily.
BC
That said, msd quality has gone down the crapper. What start out as 30 ohm wires end up going to 2k+. It's a subtle change in engine performance, but when replaced with good wires, it's more than noticeable.
I'm done with the made in Mexico msd crap. And will get the GM wires this spring.
Maybe now that Holley bought msd, they will make the needed quality control changes!
Ron
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,357
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From: Western NY
That said, msd quality has gone down the crapper. What start out as 30 ohm wires end up going to 2k+. It's a subtle change in engine performance, but when replaced with good wires, it's more than noticeable.
I'm done with the made in Mexico msd crap. And will get the GM wires this spring.
Maybe now that Holley bought msd, they will make the needed quality control changes!
Ron
I'm done with the made in Mexico msd crap. And will get the GM wires this spring.
Maybe now that Holley bought msd, they will make the needed quality control changes!
Ron
I seem to recall reading an article a couple of years ago, stating that MSD was having a lot of issues with "counterfeit junk" out there in the market......but it could have been just an excuse for their quality issues, I don't know for sure.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
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From: Clymer PA
My exhaust gaskets came in today, I went with the GM MLS ones per recommendations. I have a set of spark plug wire socks coming in as well. The only thing left to get are the spark plugs and I am ready to start the header, x-pipe and Z06 muffler install.
I think I may drill a hole and add a bung for a wideband 02 sensor while I am at it. I am going to wait to get the driver's side header up in there to see what location will leave enough room and what not.
Thanks for all of the help thus far!
I think I may drill a hole and add a bung for a wideband 02 sensor while I am at it. I am going to wait to get the driver's side header up in there to see what location will leave enough room and what not.
Thanks for all of the help thus far!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,144
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From: Panhandle FL
I have the MSD wires and I'm not impressed. That being said , I don't see any header clearance issues. All of my wires can be turned so they are not that close. Any silicon boot that is a inch away will not burn thru .
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
My exhaust gaskets came in today, I went with the GM MLS ones per recommendations. I have a set of spark plug wire socks coming in as well. The only thing left to get are the spark plugs and I am ready to start the header, x-pipe and Z06 muffler install.
I think I may drill a hole and add a bung for a wideband 02 sensor while I am at it. I am going to wait to get the driver's side header up in there to see what location will leave enough room and what not.
Thanks for all of the help thus far!
I think I may drill a hole and add a bung for a wideband 02 sensor while I am at it. I am going to wait to get the driver's side header up in there to see what location will leave enough room and what not.
Thanks for all of the help thus far!