Hey got problem I tried 4-sets of wires Xacts,stock,MSD 8mm (advance auto), and 7mmBeldans (NAPA) and all them did the same thing they arch some one told me that if the engine wasn't grounded correctly that no matter what wires I use that I would mess them all up

Is this true? I see the fire/spark (pretty and blue) jumping out near the dist. and in the middle of the wires on both sides of the car

89 305 tbi 700r4 thsi is wierd 4 sets from 2 places supposedly everything is stock. the PO said they took the 305 out and put in a 350 I thought and still think that he is lying but just in case he's not does it make a diff?

it was sugg. to me to start diff. thread for the this subject so i did ohh by the way it only misfires in gear under accel. (hard accel.)

 

I would try to get a couple heavy gauge wires and run a few more grounds, one from the block to the battery and one from the block to the chassis, see if that works, Your not going to hurt anything buy doing so.

 

thanks I didn't know that grounds could have such an impact on plug wires but I think this weekend that I will try that and see what happens.

 

You should have neg battery cable already running to the block (connected at front pass side block. Maybe bad neg batt cable?

There is a ground strap at rear pass head to the firewall as well - might look at that. Remove the strap from the firewall, and clean that area of firewall with brake cleaner, then scuff with sandpaper to make sure it grounds well.

There is also a small wire leading from neg bat cable to the fender - again clean the fender well and scuff with sandpaper.

But - I'm having a hard time thinking that a bad ground is causing this - if the grounds were that bad, then the starter would have issues (since it grounds to the block and that's it ONLY ground) - if the starter turns evertime with no issues, then the neg battery cable is doing it's job - otherwise it would try to ground through the groundstrap, and the only way back to the battery is that small wire to the fender, which would melt when you cranked the starter.

Have you replaced the dist cap? Replace it again. You stated the arc is near the cap - I'd think a cracked cap would be more capable of this symptom than a bad ground.

 

will replace the dizzy this weekend and report back but if anyone else has any ideas please chime in. will I have to replace the wires again? 8.5mm or 10mm? what kind and where can I get them. What about the 8.5mm advance auto ACCEL wires.

 

Excessive plug gap will cause what you described. What kind of plugs are you running and what is the gap?

 

Autolite-Copper/Spark Plug

For your 1989 Chevrolet Camaro 5.0L TBI OHV 8cyl

Price:
$1.99
these are what are in there i believe but the manual is calling for ac delco rt45s so I think that I am going to replace them.
I pulled them one by one and the only one that had any carbon was no. 1 and it was lightly I checked the gap and then regapped as needed. Last night I changed the dizzycap and rotor button and it did not arc near the diz after testing ( in drive and holding the brake) but it did still arch in the middle of t he wires (not quite as bright)

So now I will exchange the Beldan wires for a new set and get some AC delco rt45 spark plugs. after that if it still does it I'll either try some 10mm ($150+)wires or put in the shop.

thanks fellas.

 

well another full tune Dizzy cap,rotor button,plugs ac delco .035 gap, autolite wires routed thru looms (no metal touching wires) unhooked fan wires so car can reach operating temp., and connected ground strap to body. and NO CHANGE. still bucking when going from cruising to heavy accel. and sometimes just light accel. fuel filter is good. fuel pump is new.

what's next timing? fast and the furious computer tune? I'm thinking about getting rid of it. would like to keep it other than this the car is in decent condition (for a 20 yr old car that no one took care of) Please help.

oh!!!!! I took the plugs ou t and found 5 of them were covered in carbon (turned black) the others were white with a brown spot like they should be. the wires did not have a burned place on them. I thought that the fan running all the time in 50 degree weather was causing it to run rich but that don't explain the arching. Please Help!!!!!!!!!

 

bump

 

I know- old thread! But if you found this during a 'search' try replacing the valve seals. My 1991 Z28 was running bad and burning oil on startup. Plugs were getting fouled. Replaced the valve oil seals and problem fixed! Also added TWO extra ground straps to insure I fixed annoying electrical problems.