Notices
1961 - 1966 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Slick Sixties Ford Truck

Testing A Sparkplug wire.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 29, 2007 | 12:19 PM
  #16  
FordBoypete's Avatar
FordBoypete
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,222
Likes: 1
From: East Central Florida
John,
I can't confirm that # either, but Belden's Street rated wires with that magnetic supression capability are the ones to run with a breakerless Ign Sys from what I can tell. It's what I run on my Beater. That has 230Kmi & is on it's 3rd set . I believe they were around $30 +/- last time I bought them.

I believe the 8MM set has more insulation than 7MM's do. If you have a 7MM cap the 8MM don't "plug & play". So I'd stick with 7MM's & just keep on Truckin' . . . Huh?

FBp
 
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2007 | 12:29 PM
  #17  
Pro-Street/StateTK's Avatar
Pro-Street/StateTK
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: East Flat Rock NC
Back to the original question about testing these wires.I belive in recycling when you can, If it aint broke dont throw it away.

Take a bucket of water, tape one end of the wire above the water level, and submerge the rest of the wire. hang the other boot over the side of the bucket or what ever you are using (making sure to keep the water out of the boots!). Stick one of the meter probs in the water and one in the boot of the wire ( you may have to wiggle the wire around in the water....using a stick or something). If there is a leak the ohm's scale will be off the chart.Slowly pull the wire out of the water until the ohm's zero out. If the leak is close to the boot you could shorten the wire up. If it is too short at that point you could swap it with one of your longer wires.

On a 351W there are 2 wires that you have to seperate and not have crossing each other or they will arc together (statically traveling the outside of the wire) even on a good wire. Because there are 2 cylinders that fire one after another that are side by side.
I do know you have an FE engine but this may help.

Wally Womack
 
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2007 | 02:55 PM
  #18  
cfrives3's Avatar
cfrives3
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 0
From: shawnee KS
What was that about a windsor again? I have a problem in one of my broncos. Could you elaborate just a little on that?
 
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2007 | 05:00 PM
  #19  
jowilker's Avatar
jowilker
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Owner
25 Year Member
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Club FTE Silver Member

The two cylinders closest to the firewall on the drivers side, can have fire bleed if the wires are touching. I think it applies to several of the Ford engines. It is because of the firing order.

Now one of the problems that I am having is I have wire looms on my engine. This is turning into a real hemorrhoid.

John
 
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2007 | 05:11 PM
  #20  
cfrives3's Avatar
cfrives3
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,233
Likes: 0
From: shawnee KS
Ok, I guess this would not apply to me. My 86 Bronco (351w) is running like crap. Thought maybe I was on to something. Pull #1 wire off at cap, no difference in how it is running. Same with #3. New plugs, wires, cap, and rotor. Pulled plug, put in wire and held to ground with truck running, yep, got fire. Pulled off valve cover. Everything is moving as it should. Borrowing a comp. tester in the morning, I don't think I want to know what it has to say. Exhaust is normal except for the miss(es). I'm pulling my hair out!
Oh yeah-All the plugs look the same-normal.
 
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2007 | 07:49 PM
  #21  
tbm3fan's Avatar
tbm3fan
Cargo Master
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 3,014
Likes: 91
From: Concord, CA
Originally Posted by cfrives3
What was that about a windsor again? I have a problem in one of my broncos. Could you elaborate just a little on that?
He was referring to the fact that the factory correct was to route the wires on a Windsor is by separating the 7 and 8 wires as they go through the wire separator to their respective plugs. So in the wire separator, on top of the drivers valve cover, you order them as 5,7,6, and then 8. At the moment I am at a loss to be positive, but I know my 360 also has that same order for the drivers bank of wires.
 
Reply
Old Mar 29, 2007 | 07:54 PM
  #22  
jowilker's Avatar
jowilker
Thread Starter
|
Fleet Owner
25 Year Member
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Club FTE Silver Member

One of the problems that I had when I started this thread was a worn out distributer. When I stuffed the Unilite back in my misfiring stopped. That dist was run as a test to see if the gas milage would increase with vacuum advance. I am gonna leave it alone for a while, and probably get a new set of wires on soon.

John
 
Reply
Old Mar 30, 2007 | 08:36 AM
  #23  
Pro-Street/StateTK's Avatar
Pro-Street/StateTK
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,230
Likes: 0
From: East Flat Rock NC
cfrives3

A 351W needs to have the 6/5 wires seperated. unless you have a bigger cam in it then it uses the 302 firing order and that would mean you need to have the 7/8 wires seperated.

Wally Womack
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-2

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-6

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-9

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Joe Tomaselli
1987 - 1996 F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
12
Jan 10, 2016 11:18 AM
Jace Frahm
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks
1
Nov 15, 2015 06:33 PM
cub682
Modular V8 (4.6L, 5.4L)
3
Nov 12, 2015 08:36 AM
frogman44
Computer Chips & Tuners
1
Jan 29, 2010 11:46 AM
heybrent
Small Block V8 (221, 260, 289, 5.0/302, 5.8/351W)
8
Aug 9, 2002 09:57 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:49 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-1
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-2
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-3
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-5
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-6
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE