"High performance" wires?

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buck91

buck91

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I know in years past there was a pretty huge "high performance" spark plug wire market. Everything from diameter to jacket materials were advertised. Now, most cars sport COP type ignitions but my '96 still has plug wires with the Ford EDIS system. Is there any benefit to fancy aftermarket wire sets or is any given quality wire set going to work just as well as anything else? Its close to stock, certainly no forced induction!
 
Personally I'd just run OE ford wires. They fit better than any aftermarket wires that I've ever come across. In recent years I've gone back to exclusively running OE wires for the fit. I have yet to be disappointed. In your application I cant think of any benefit to "performance" wires.
 
I put an NGK wire set on my Camry. Bosch on my Ram. no need to go overboard. now, on my Cougar with the MSD ignition.... yes, I caved and made an MSD set for it....
 
I would run OE wires, the last thing I want is "high performance" wires. The best plug wires have EXCELLENT EMI suppression, and the right lengths, that's OE.

It is a much greater risk of spurious harmonics from ignition system affecting your ECM/PCM if non-supression wire and plugs are used. If you put solid core wires on a really hot ignition, with a hot coil you effectively become a spark gap radio transmitter.
 
I like the MSD wires. They are pretty red, the fit is great, have plenty of RF suppression and have less resistance. I'm not going to claim more power or MPG or even say I feel a difference because I don't. With that - I've used OEM, Bosch, Duralast and Borg Warner with equally good results just the same. With today's cars all having high energy ignition systems, it's not like the old carb days when you actually did get a little performance enhancement throwing on a hi power coil and Hi performance plug wires. Those days are gone and even cheap replacement wires must be spec'd to match your ignition so it's hard to improve on the already good OEM ignition systems of today.
 
Performance wires are best used, and really a necessity for high output performance ignitions. Some I have will set a regular wire on fire.

Are performance ignition systems necessary? If you have a performance vehicle that calls for an unusually small plug gap, it's a pretty good indicator the factory ignition system is leaving a lot on the table. Same if you have to purposely run a small gap to prevent spark blowout or ignition breakup under high loads/rpms.
 
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
...it's not like the old carb days when you actually did get a little performance enhancement throwing on a hi power coil and Hi performance plug wires. Those days are gone....


Not for everyone. Short of a nuclear strike EMP, I don't have to worry about interfering with electronics.
 
Yeah, I run either Ford Racing 8mm wires for durability, or Moroso spiral core for non-Ford applications.

They are still suppression wire, but much better made than most aftermarket wires. A V8 kit is usually around $45 or so. Not bad, and they last a L-o-n-g time
smile.gif
 
Those things were made for guys with Hondas looking to get that little extra edge over their friend who put a new cold air intake on his Honda. The decal that came with the wires added more HP than the wires.
 
Originally Posted By: Ducked
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
...it's not like the old carb days when you actually did get a little performance enhancement throwing on a hi power coil and Hi performance plug wires. Those days are gone....


Not for everyone. Short of a nuclear strike EMP, I don't have to worry about interfering with electronics.


LOL! So true. Well I've got an old 1978 Jeep CJ7, 1966 Cadillac Deville and a 1932 Ford with a '57 Thunderbird 312 V8 so I'm ready too.
 
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I like the MSD wires. They are pretty red, the fit is great, have plenty of RF suppression and have less resistance. I'm not going to claim more power or MPG or even say I feel a difference because I don't. With that - I've used OEM, Bosch, Duralast and Borg Warner with equally good results just the same. With today's cars all having high energy ignition systems, it's not like the old carb days when you actually did get a little performance enhancement throwing on a hi power coil and Hi performance plug wires. Those days are gone and even cheap replacement wires must be spec'd to match your ignition so it's hard to improve on the already good OEM ignition systems of today.

I installed an Accel upgraded ignition coil on my grandmother's 1993 Buick Roadmaster. It took far less time to start, and it did have an EFI engine, a 350 TBI.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
Originally Posted By: GMBoy
I like the MSD wires. They are pretty red, the fit is great, have plenty of RF suppression and have less resistance. I'm not going to claim more power or MPG or even say I feel a difference because I don't. With that - I've used OEM, Bosch, Duralast and Borg Warner with equally good results just the same. With today's cars all having high energy ignition systems, it's not like the old carb days when you actually did get a little performance enhancement throwing on a hi power coil and Hi performance plug wires. Those days are gone and even cheap replacement wires must be spec'd to match your ignition so it's hard to improve on the already good OEM ignition systems of today.

I installed an Accel upgraded ignition coil on my grandmother's 1993 Buick Roadmaster. It took far less time to start, and it did have an EFI engine, a 350 TBI.


Well the days of TBI are also far in the past....as it was basically the natural evolution that GM took from the GOD AWFUL computer controlled Rochester 4 barrels like on my Monte Carlo. Those were phased out just about 20 years ago. Reliable for the most part, but a rather crude evolutionary step.

For the most part on a a modern OEM multi port or direct injection system, you won't see the improvements compared to the less refined systems of fuel induction.
 
Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Performance wires are best used, and really a necessity for high output performance ignitions. Some I have will set a regular wire on fire.

Are performance ignition systems necessary? If you have a performance vehicle that calls for an unusually small plug gap, it's a pretty good indicator the factory ignition system is leaving a lot on the table. Same if you have to purposely run a small gap to prevent spark blowout or ignition breakup under high loads/rpms.


I installed an MSD coil and 8mm wires on my 96 Vortec GMC Sierra, and then gapped the copper plugs with a nickle. I cant claim any gains, but it didn't run worse. I figured lower the wire resistance, raise the resistance at the plug, and add more fire to the mix at the same time.
 
This is yet another stupid topic. Every spark plug in every vehicle already has a resistor built-in it. The coil wires don't conduct massive currents. Their job is to make sure the massive voltage does not leak through insulation.
 
Originally Posted By: Vikas
This is yet another stupid topic. Every spark plug in every vehicle already has a resistor built-in it. The coil wires don't conduct massive currents. Their job is to make sure the massive voltage does not leak through insulation.



Try reading my post before commenting.
 
I went overkill and installed MSD Super Conductors when I changed out the spark plugs on my LM7. Apparently the LS and EcoTec3 GenV engines still use spark plug wires in an coil near plug design. Really no performance difference but at least I have a quality name wireset that can last through several plug changes.
 
I've never had good luck with AC-Delco replacement wires on my 98 Chevy truck with the 5.7L vortec. They seem to arc through the insulation in no time at all. It ends up being a light show under the hood. These were all lifetime warranty replacement wires.

I replaced those with Magnecor wires and they have been on the truck for years with no issues.

Wayne
 
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