Im going to be changing all my spark plugs,wires and new distributor rotor and cap. My question is are so called "performance" spark plug wires better than OEM or is it just a gimmick to get people to empty their pockets. Since im in High school i dont have deep pockets but if its worth it I would pay extra.

 

The original equipment spark plug wires are quite adequate for most non-performance engines.

 

I bought OEM Motorcraft from Rock Auto for my 84/302.

 

No need for "extra" insulation unless you're running a 60kv coil.
Stock is fine, or a quality brand like Belden or NGK.
If you buy a $15 set of duralast 'bronze' wires don't expect them to 'last' for long.

 

As mentioned, OEM should be just fine. Many performance wire sets have reduced resistance, which may sound good, but is not always desirable for normal use. The internal resistance helps improve the characteristics of the spark for most applications. Instead of a quick, hot flash that may not always last long enough to completely ignite the fuel/air mix, a slower and slightly cooler spark often works better. Although the peak intensity is less, the longer duration does a better overall job of ignition.

An electronics teacher explained it this way to me, many years ago. Imagine your car stalled by the side of the road with a dead battery, and you need a push to dump the clutch and get it going. Lo and behold, a group of burly football linebackers conveniently walk by and offer their assistance. If they all stepped back 10 paces and charged at your car at full speed, that's the equivalent of performance plug wires without any resistance. Not much will happen, except for a dented trunk and a bunch of broken shoulders. Now compare to resistor (OEM) plug wires. The linebackers slowly move into position behind your car and lean into it, as you merrily dump the clutch and get the engine started. The same total energy is available from the linebackers, but in a much more useable form. It's the same thing with the energy delivered to the spark plugs.

Performance wires do have their place, such as high RPM race cars, where there isn't much time between ignition firings, and so you need things to happen as quickly as possible. Unless you're consistently running your engine at 6k RPM <g>, go with the OEM versions.

Also be aware sometimes the "performance" moniker means almost nothing. It can just be a marketing gimmick. Compare the resistance, insulation strength, and temperature ratings. Remember, don't get confused when comparing resistance specs. Higher resistance isn't always bad, as explained above.

 

^^ I like that explanation, thanks for posting that.

 

It's a nice explanation but not really accurate.
In fact, it's pretty backwards.
Electrons are not "slowed" by resistance.

Resistor wires (or caps) are used for two reasons.
1) To damp 'ringing' that affects electronic components, broadcast radio and tv reception.
You would be violating fcc regulations if you were to run copper (440) wire and 0 ohm caps.
RFI propagates from the wire just like an antenna.
2) The resistance holds back the start of an arc (spark) until potential builds to overcome the gap and a "hot" spark is created. It also cuts the arc short.
You DON'T want a spark that builds and then piddles out. The limited energy of the coil would not have a high peak.
A coil only holds so much charge, and doesn't have much time (dwell) to build for the next spark.
At 5k rpm in an eight cylinder engine.... 8cylx5,000rpm=40,000 sparks a minute, or 666.666... times a second!
(Edit*** my mistake, I realize that in the Otto cycle engine there is only one spark for every TWO rotations, so 20K per minute or 333.333 times a second)
Yeah, not much time for a field to build and collapse.
Two strokes would hold true to the 40k per minute.

If you don't believe me ask Gary , Jim's Rebel or Bill Vose (for sure).

 

Some guy comes along and posts what he remembers from school in the past to try and help the OP.

Somebody else comes along and says no, that's totally wrong and is backwards.

Neither provide verifiable citations to their sources, so all we have is hear-say on both sides... the Internet is full of this kind of stuff and FTE is no exception...

 

Unless you have a heavily modified, high performance engine that spends a lot of time above 5,000 RPMs, "high performance" spark plug wires and/or aftermarket ignition systems are nothing but a gimmick.

For a stock or mildly modified engine, Motorcraft replacement components are hard to beat.

 

Okay, I'll find sources to back my statments.
Meanwhile, what do you think the speed of an electron is?
What do you think its speed is after it passes through a resistor?

 

I have no idea anymore on speed, that is stuff I learned in school decades ago and have promptly forgotten.

But I would imagine it would depend on the medium through which it is flowing... for example, traveling along a copper conductor would be slower than traveling through fiber optics... or so it would seem to me....

 

But electrons travel on the surface...
Electrons don't travel very quickly, but if you use the water analogy (as many do to represent voltage as pressure and amperage as volume) think of it this way... the hose is full of water (electrons) already.
If you push some water in one end of the hose, water comes out the other end right away.
Not the same water, but water that was already sitting there qued up and then pushed out the other end of the hose (conductor, wire)

Fiber optics transmit *photons* (at the speed of light - in that medium) not electrons, or any electric charge.
In fact, glass is a very effective insulator.
You used to see glass insulators on power poles all over the place.

 

No one said there would be science involved.....

 

What hath I wrought? Note to self: No more electronic thoughts for me...

 

Insulators on power poles now are either ceramic or polymer I am thinking. They dont look the same as they used. The glass insulators looked like the blue/green depression glass. The ones I see now are like a deep maroon or brown color.