Hey guys, I've got a question that most of you probably won't have a clue what I'm talking about but here goes: tonight I was looking at my ignition system. Everthing looked fine until I was looking at my plug wires. Since my mechanic last did my tune-up I'm unfamiliar with this- on each side of the engine there are three 90 degree plug ends connecting to the plugs- no big deal, that's normal, but on each side of the engine, there is one plug end that isn't 90 degrees, but it is straight. It isn't a straight end like you'd see on an aftermarket kit, it is wierd looking. Like I said, there is one of these on each side of the engine. I tried getting a pic. of them but none of them turned out good since the space is so cramped. And I'm sure they are part of the ignition, because I followed them right up to the distributor just like the 90 degree plugs. Is this how it is supposed to be or did my mechanic screw up? I mean maybe that plug on each head won't allow room for a 90 degree? Oh and on my car ('89 IROC-Z 350 TPI), are the plugs spaced evenly apart? Because I was feeling around under the manifolds and they didn't seem like they were spaced evenly apart (as you can tell, I've never tuned my own car up, recently got it). I hope someone knows what I am talking about here because I wanted to buy some wires soon, and if I need different ends, how am I gonna order something like that? -89IRO

 

Anyone?

 

The spark plug wires that are there are normal.
Anytime you buy a wire set for these cars, a couple of the wires come with the straight connectors. I think the 90 degree ones sit to close to the manifolds and melt the boots on the wires.
Other than the straight look though, they are just normal spark plug wires.
As for the spark plugs they are not spaced evenly apart. That is just the way they are.
A suggestion if you have never tuned up your own car. When replacing spark plug wires, always do them one at a time. If you take them all off and put them back in the wrong order, the car will run VERY badly, if at all.

 

O.K., that's what I kind of figured after reading more. So both universal and custom fit wires would come with both 90 and two straight boots? -89IRO

 

I just changed the plugs and wires this weekend on mine. the plug set came with 3 strait boots, one went on drivers rear plug, and the other 2 went on pass rear plugs. by the way , the easiest way to get the pass plugs in and out is from underneath the car. drivers side is a little harder.

 

Hellfire- what kind of wires did you put in? Universal or Custom? Part #? -89IRO

 

As long as you can get the wires plugged into the spark plug, the angle of the boots doesn't matter. Some sets come with all angle boots, some come with all straight, and some are mixed. I don't know why. Just start out using the longer wires for the front cylinders, and do one cylinder at a time, you'll save yourself headaches that way.

 

Bosch. it was like 34.99 at autozone. i started out on the drivers side from front to back . definitely do one plug at a time, it makes a world of difference if you forget what wire goes to what plug. Just take the plug and wire out. then match the length of that wire to one in the new set. put them on and on to the next. when i did the pass side i got all of them from the bottom. it was really easy that way and i dont think i could have gotten them from the top anyway.

 

So was that a custom set you got? -89IRO

 

I just asked for a set for my car and they gave me three options but the Bosch set was the best for the money and it is nearly an exact match to lengh with the factory wires.