Best Plug Wires Available?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,105
Likes: 114
From: Lawrenceburg, KY
Best Plug Wires Available?
I need a new set of plug wires.
In the past, I always used MSD 8.5mm wires but I've had 3 sets fail on me recently. They don't seem to be making the plug end crimp very good and the terminal rips off the wire (and no, I'm not pulling them by the wire... defective parts). I always use dielectric grease and I run wire socks, so it's not an issue of heat or age (the last set was less than 6 months old).
What's THE BEST LS1 (ideally truck length so I can use truck coils later) plug wires out there? Money is no consideration in this purchase (tired of having to replace). I'm using a set of Delco truck length wires I had laying around right now.
In the past, I always used MSD 8.5mm wires but I've had 3 sets fail on me recently. They don't seem to be making the plug end crimp very good and the terminal rips off the wire (and no, I'm not pulling them by the wire... defective parts). I always use dielectric grease and I run wire socks, so it's not an issue of heat or age (the last set was less than 6 months old).
What's THE BEST LS1 (ideally truck length so I can use truck coils later) plug wires out there? Money is no consideration in this purchase (tired of having to replace). I'm using a set of Delco truck length wires I had laying around right now.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 694
Likes: 417
From: Armonk, NY
Firecore 50 bar none. OEM AC Delco are junk compared to Firecore.https://www.motionraceworks.com/products/firecore-ls1-8-5mm-plug-wires-for-car-length-coil-packs-short-pf3008?currency=USD&utm_medium=cpc&utm_s ource=google&utm_campaign=Google%20Shopp ing&gclid=Cj0KCQiA5aWOBhDMARIsAIXLlkcXoX adv-EIWyxrEV-M5IKU2hL2mGvYBrD3ssygbyBjAvCwLTXib4EaApc hEALw_wcB
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,758
Likes: 935
From: Orlando Florida
This should fix his link, and re-direct to the 13" truck wire length -- but I really don't see why these would be any better than the GM Performance. First red flag to me is when they refer to resistance as '50 Ohms per square foot'. Ah, no. That would be sheet resistance. Wires are generally spec'ed at Ohms per linear foot. They do say U.S.A. made, which is a plus, but I seen to recall GM Performance wires have less resistance (not that it matters in this application:
https://www.motionraceworks.com/prod...17814008922230
https://www.motionraceworks.com/prod...17814008922230
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,797
Likes: 356
From: Northville, MI
This was discussed several times years ago, the GM red wires were about 300 ohms and someone who was involved with the development of the LS1 engine management system (Ross Perot company) said at 6 inches length, the amount of voltage loss was negligible and the original, non-programmable, portion of the software was based on 300-350 ohms. That was why the they were preferred. Also, as I recall, many of the aftermarket wires were not consistent in resistance from wire to wire. All this was about 2006-2009 time period. Also in LS1 forum someone did a resistance test of all the major wires available at that time. As I recall.
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Racer
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 344
Likes: 114
From: Dawsonville Ga
Unless your shooting for every thousandth of a second in a big league drag racing class or perhaps trying to set a national dyno hp record, the plug wires at these lengths are all going to be the same. The Oem wires will last an easy 100k miles and fit great. No need in spending extra coin to gain virtually nothing with a plug wire, in my opinion. Even if you found a $200 set that gave you 5 hp, you’d never notice the 5 hp. I’d throw a set of GM reds on it and send it.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,859
Likes: 4,656
Unless your shooting for every thousandth of a second in a big league drag racing class or perhaps trying to set a national dyno hp record, the plug wires at these lengths are all going to be the same. The Oem wires will last an easy 100k miles and fit great. No need in spending extra coin to gain virtually nothing with a plug wire, in my opinion. Even if you found a $200 set that gave you 5 hp, you’d never notice the 5 hp. I’d throw a set of GM reds on it and send it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,972
Likes: 719
This was discussed several times years ago, the GM red wires were about 300 ohms and someone who was involved with the development of the LS1 engine management system (Ross Perot company) said at 6 inches length, the amount of voltage loss was negligible and the original, non-programmable, portion of the software was based on 300-350 ohms. That was why the they were preferred. Also, as I recall, many of the aftermarket wires were not consistent in resistance from wire to wire. All this was about 2006-2009 time period. Also in LS1 forum someone did a resistance test of all the major wires available at that time. As I recall.
