Favorite Plug Wires?
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
fastford, no biggie just a oops. I found with brand new FireWires they read like 47K ohms per/ft, WTF, I called Crane and they said run 'em 10 minutes then recheck. Results, average 26.4 ohms per/ft. Any lower the radio will click but worse screw up puter signals. I'm on the 5th set of wires by manufacture and by far the FireWires are the best. I got the "you make the dizzy end up universal kit" to make a clean installation. BTW I think I paid $48 for the set of 8.5mm and they just fit in the dizzy made for 7mm. A vast improvement with the V-8 4.6 Rover motor, super clean in the last two smog checks, stock wires mad me fail at idle. Rover stole my last spare set of wires will add another set of FireWires to the FE as it has the Crane RX3000 ignition (infrared trigger) system.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
I will own nothing from MSD from all their ignition unit failures in the past, if it works for you and your happy good. Sorry to sound rude but I don't like to throw good money after bad over and over.
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Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
Likes: 9
From: iowa
I have run several types of wires, and have heard good things about hte motorcraft wires but I have been running taylor wires for the past 10 yrs and won't run anything else. The boots on the plug end are molded on so less likely to break and just generally been good wires. Had a set on my old dually that went over 200k miles and still no signs of breakdown and at under $50 for the set aren't the most expensive wires either. On the race truck I am running the taylor 409 wires, and really like them but they do cost a considarble bit more.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,609
Likes: 18
From: Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Originally Posted by jcp123
How about the Bosch wires that AutoZone carries on the shelf. Those any good?
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
I bet they're a "made for a cost" item like Sears sells Michelin tires under their house name. Mitchelin will make a tire in the price range specified by Sears and a reduced quality that will be reflected in a lower price. I like quality items and believe in Crane's FireWires at 25 ohms per/ft wires. If you found cheap wires there must be a reason like maybe quality or made in China? Install quality once or pay twice later.
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Last edited by "Beemer Nut"; Jan 27, 2006 at 11:04 PM.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
From: Milpitas, CA; Tyler, TX
Originally Posted by Beemer Nut
Install quality once or pay twice later.
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I'm sure anything has to be better than the wires that are on there - I'm nearly positive they haven't been changed since this truck was new ('92 model, built August '91)
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 441
Likes: 0
From: Iowa
My personal opinion on this...when in doubt - go OEM, Motorcraft. I try to stick with motorcraft oil, plugs, filters, and wires. If I have to choose at a parts stores and there is a MC or Borg-Warner I'll get that part as opposed to the cheaper one. Look at how many cheapskates there are that buy a vehicle and never change anything. If those wires are good enough to run 100,000+ miles on the OEM equipment, its good enough to install again.
I am curious what the impedence on the Motorcraft wires would be, though.
I am curious what the impedence on the Motorcraft wires would be, though.
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 6,100
Likes: 380
From: Southern California
I have used Allied Signal wires for about 15 years....they run about the same as motorcraft but have a lifetime warranty. Kragen carry's them. About every 5-7 years i take them in and get a new set free.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
The Bosch spark plug wires and distributor cap on my wife's car lasted more than eight years of daily stop and go city driving. I just replaced them about two months ago when the car started stalling and eventually stopped running. Eight years fly by fast!
Old cars used to just start running poorly when a wire went bad and one piston started firing intermittently. These "new" engines (my wife's car is an '87) can show all sorts of odd symptoms with bad wires. The leaking/arcing wires mess up other systems. I am pretty sure the bad coil wire on my wife's car was making the air flow meter door go haywire.
www.RockAuto.com sells ignition wires for Fords by ACDelco, Airtex, Bosch, Champion, Motorcraft and Powermax.
Old cars used to just start running poorly when a wire went bad and one piston started firing intermittently. These "new" engines (my wife's car is an '87) can show all sorts of odd symptoms with bad wires. The leaking/arcing wires mess up other systems. I am pretty sure the bad coil wire on my wife's car was making the air flow meter door go haywire.
www.RockAuto.com sells ignition wires for Fords by ACDelco, Airtex, Bosch, Champion, Motorcraft and Powermax.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Pacific NW
Well I've settled on the Belden Premium set at 44 bucks. I could have gotten the Ford wires for about the same price but had to order them and I've run out of time.
Have you guys read the technical articles at Magnecor's website? They make some impacting statements that get a guy thinking. Like I said at the start of this thread: will all the hoopla and hype out there....!!! Geez, you need a major in electrical engineering to make an educated purchase.
Anyways, back to the Beldens....I've heard one complaint about arcing in all the Internet searching I've done. There's a decent warranty with the spark wire kit, and I can get them from NAPA.
-FSH
Have you guys read the technical articles at Magnecor's website? They make some impacting statements that get a guy thinking. Like I said at the start of this thread: will all the hoopla and hype out there....!!! Geez, you need a major in electrical engineering to make an educated purchase.
Anyways, back to the Beldens....I've heard one complaint about arcing in all the Internet searching I've done. There's a decent warranty with the spark wire kit, and I can get them from NAPA.
-FSH
New User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
I have 97 ford explorer 5.0L and need to replace plugs and wires. I am trying to decide between Motocraft brand ($99), Autozone brand ($29), and Bosch brand ($60). Do they make any differences and is it worth the extra cost for motocraft? Any suggestions or experience?