Marine plug wires, yes or no
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Engine Repair
Forum Discription: Engine problems and solutions
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5880
Printed Date: November-27-2024 at 7:29pm
Topic: Marine plug wires, yes or no
Posted By: MaddMarxx
Subject: Marine plug wires, yes or no
Date Posted: March-02-2007 at 10:45pm
| do I have to run marine plug wires only?? |
Replies:
Posted By: reidp
Date Posted: March-02-2007 at 11:15pm
|
As for the wires, I've run both and I can't tell a difference, but I dare not cast an opinion for fear of being slain. (just kidding, of course) West Marine sells a pretty yellow set that doesn't cost all that much.
------------- ReidP /diaries/details.asp?ID=231&yrstart=1971&yrend=1975 - 1973 Mustang |
Posted By: Tim D
Date Posted: March-02-2007 at 11:35pm
|
Buy the lowest ohms you can afford. ------------- Tim D |
Posted By: MaddMarxx
Date Posted: March-02-2007 at 11:48pm
| I bought a set of 9mm ford racing wires, but Im not sure what ohms they are! they are street and strip car wires! |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: March-02-2007 at 11:54pm
|
The only difference between automotive and marine plug wires is the length, as far as I can tell. Many automotive wires will run over the valve cover, which doesnt make a lot of sense with our marine exhaust manifolds.
When I consulted DUI on what wires to run on my HEI style ignition, they suggested running quality 8mm spiral core wires at a minimum. I bought a universal Taylor Spiro-Pro kit and made my own. ------------- |
Posted By: Tim D
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 12:19am
|
Mine are Accel. ------------- Tim D |
Posted By: MaddMarxx
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 12:22am
| I have the pretty yellow wires that Reid is talking about, but they have been on it for almost 5 years! |
Posted By: MaddMarxx
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 12:23am
Are they marine?? |
Tim D wrote:Posted By: Tim D
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 12:27am
|
Not marine, just high performance, low ohms. ------------- Tim D |
Posted By: GottaSki
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 7:52am
|
If you think at all you wish to add an msd ignition someday, choose not spiral core.
I have been impressed with the quality of the marine MagStar wires. They are beefy, lengths are always right, never had a terminal pull off nor corrode, no radio interferrence. Prices are competitive with most other options. ------------- "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing." River Rat to Mole |
Posted By: eric lavine
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 8:13am
|
the difference from what i can tell is the length to get around the manifolds, difference? probably not only in the price. i try to stay with 8 mm or better. it seems for off the shelf wires, Napa seems to have a qaulity wire from thier sierra line ------------- "the things you own will start to own you" |
Posted By: 79nautique
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 9:25am
|
It makes no differnce I had a set of Moroso Blue Max wires then went with a set from skidim because the atumotive wires where a little short, But I would stay away from the spiral core wires some of the ignition system don't like them and i believe in the instruction of the cil I bought it specificly stated not to use spiral core wires. Like a couple others have allready said the difference is length. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=756&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1979&yrend=1979 - 79 nautique |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 10:25am
A better recommendation is to check with the ignition system manufacturer to verify what wires are best. Performance Distributors specifically recommended 8mm spiral core for my DUI. ------------- |
Posted By: M3Fan
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 1:57pm
This post prompted me to look around for GT40 EFI plug wires. I'd love to have a set of yellow ones to match the yellow labels on the exhaust manifolds and the GT40 logos on the engine. This would be about as much modding as I would do to this engine  . Turns out that SKIDIM has a whole separate set of OEM GT40 EFI plug wires. These wires have a special coil wire and are factory red in color. Does anyone have a cross-reference for an automotive equivalent for these wires? I don't know if the female ends for the cap would be a different size from standard wires, and I'm pretty sure the coil wire is quite different than the non-EFI equivilants.
|
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 2:06pm
|
Joel, the problem with automotive wires is the length- I dont think theyre long enough to go under our marine exhaust manifolds. If youre up to making your own, its not hard. The universal kits come with both style connectors. ------------- |
Posted By: 79nautique
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 2:08pm
|
I believe you can get the dist end either way from skidim, your not going to have an auto eqiv. Marine wires would be to long so they would never have been used on a car to cross reference.
Actually went back and read the Mallory stuff I have and maybe it was the conv. kit I had before the new motor and dist. But I guess I need to look at some spiral core wires, need to get the new exhaust on first tho. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=756&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1979&yrend=1979 - 79 nautique |
Posted By: M3Fan
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 2:33pm
Ok, so what is the technical term for the cap-ends of the wires that I need and the special ignition wire? I'd love to get a kit with yellow wires and go at it this summer but I would not know what type of connectors to ask for! |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 2:47pm
|
Joel, Im only aware of 2 types of terminals: male/HEI (GM) and female/socket. Not sure which style the GT40 uses, but my stock Prestolite used the female. My DUI requires the male terminals. ------------- |
Posted By: bkhallpass
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 2:51pm
How about some lime green to match that interior  BKH------------- Livin' the Dream |
Posted By: M3Fan
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 2:56pm
Ok, so that narrows it down. Female, I'd presume, since the GT40 cap has male terminals sticking out of the top unlike the typical non-GT40 cap. Now, any guesses on what the ignition wire is called? It can be seen here: 
|
Posted By: M3Fan
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 2:57pm
No comprendo. |
Posted By: 79nautique
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 3:11pm
|
You have to look at the angle of the boot that at the plug, 90, 135/45, or straight, then theres important stuff like the color, and the type of cap, either male/hei or femake socket, and this refers to thw type you see on the cap, your case male/hei others female/socket.
so then do I have a post on the cap? y male/HEI is there a socket in the cap? y female/socket the coil wire will usually have no terminal on one end and supply you with both to match any coil type. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=756&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1979&yrend=1979 - 79 nautique |
Posted By: M3Fan
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 3:14pm
| Ok, and finally, what type of core for the EFI? Spiral? |
Posted By: 79nautique
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 3:21pm
|
spiral's fine. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=756&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1979&yrend=1979 - 79 nautique |
Posted By: bkhallpass
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 3:28pm
My mistake. I was reading through these quickly and thought it was MM or Maddmarx. BKH ------------- Livin' the Dream |
Posted By: M3Fan
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 3:31pm
79, I supplied a pic of the coil wire on the previous page of this post. It looks to be quite different than a std coil wire. The kits will come with this connection? |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 3:32pm
|
Joel, the Taylor universal kit I used gives you 9 very long wires with 90 degree plug terminals on one end and 135 degree terminals on the other. They also supply you with 9 HEI terminals and boots, as well as 9 female style.
Here is a pic of the DUI male/HEI terminals (borrowed from JoeinNY):  ------------- |
Posted By: M3Fan
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 3:59pm
|
Thanks Tim, I'm specifically talking about the coil wire, seen specifically here in the lower right:
|
Posted By: 79nautique
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 4:18pm
|
it's mainly a retainer so it doesn't pop off, take a picture of your coil and post it. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=756&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1979&yrend=1979 - 79 nautique |
Posted By: M3Fan
Date Posted: March-03-2007 at 4:29pm
I just took a look at the engine. Looks like the decorative engine fascia has to be removed to get a good look at it. From what I can see it's just a fairly long coil wire with male 90 degree connections on both ends. That black plastic thing must just be a retainer clip as you suggested. |