I have someone installing SLP headers on my 1989 Formula 350. We've got the headers on and the sparkplugs in, but he says he's having problems getting the sparkplug wires to fit. I got some Accel 8.8 mm wires (P/N ACCL-8865) with 90 degree boots, and was wondering if anyone had run into this, or could think of a reason they may not be fitting...

 

I'm running SLP headers over my straight plug sportsman II's

I used accel shorty header plugs and taylor wires, and thats with about the worse case scenerio there is for clearance.


Try some shorty plugs.

 

I am using the accel wires with my SLP's, I had to use the fire sleeving on a couple boots, because they were real close to the header tubes.

~M~

 

Accel Shotie Header plugs are like 1/4 inch shorter than stock plugs, they work real nicely with my headers, plenty of room now.

 

Any 90* boot wires should fit, but you'll have to have some nimble fingers to get a couple of them on. Especially #6. You may have to use a long screwdriver or something to get enough force on that one for it to click on.

 

I have the SLP 1 5/8 with the ZZ4 heads (angle plug).
I use Taylor 8mm with the Made For You wire looms.
Works out great.

 

Thanks for the info guys. I spoke with the guy doing the install again (it's hard, he works from like 6-5 or so and does the work on nights and weekends), and apparently the problem isn't 90 degree boots, but the fact that half of them are 180 degree boots. I think I may order a set of Taylor wires, since it looks like they have lower profile boots.

Rob, other than color, did you get one of the Spiro-Pro universal sets? I want to make sure I get the right set this time as it's been quite some time since I've been able to use my Formula, and my dad wants his 2nd car back soon. =)

I was looking here:
http://store.summitracing.com/produc...earchtype=ecat

 

I got the set you have to make yourself. That way you can trim the wires exactly how you want them. Makes for a much neater installation. However, you really gotta get a good quality set of crimpers for plug wires.

 

I am running slp 1 3/4's and have MSD 8.5MM wires with AC/Delco plugs. Its tight and I have not idea on how I am going to change my plugs again but when the time comes I will worry about then. I put the plugs in before the headers. I use to use those shorty plugs. I thought they sucked. I only use Ac/Delco stuff now.

 

Can anyone supply me with a specific part no. for wires? I orderd some MSD's from Summit and it turns out I have to crimp them myself, which I want to stay away from...b/c if I do a bad crimp and don't get a good connection, I'd hate for a lack of spark screw up my engine.

In any case, once again it's a 89 350 TPI, and I am trying to get a set of pre-made 8mm or larger wires, with all 90 degree boots...no crimping involved. If someone coule give me a specific part no. that would work, that'd be great as I keep having problems trying to find the right wires with Summit.

Oh, and Bottledz, you have a custom spark plug socket, right? If not, it makes things a helluva lot easier. I made my own by cutting and hollowing out a standard spark plug socket with a dremel tool, or you can get it from SLP for $20 or so plus shipping...almost the price of the attachments I needed for the dremel.

 

I dont have a part number but....


The "Crimp your own" plug wires are nothing special at all, cut your wire with an extra inch or two incase you mess up, then strip it to the metal core, fold that piece over the insulator, then crimp the metal terminal piece to that, and silicon up the boot and slide it over, boom you have a set of plug wires made for YOUR car, they look good and function great.

On my setup its an increadibly tight squeeze, and a 5/8ths open ended wrench works GREAT I've never even cared to attept a socket because im perfectly happy with just using a wrench.

 

Crimping your own is the only way to go for spark plug wires. As has been said, it's no big deal. If you have little faith in your abilities, do like tpi_iroc said and leave them a couple inches long on your first try.

To make sure you have a good connection just give the connector a few good tugs before you put the boot on. If it pulls off, it wasn't tight enough.

If you don't cut your own you'll inevitably have at least one or 2 that will be completely wrong in length which will at best look like hell, at worst give you a constant burnt plug wire issue. So much easier to just do it right the first time....

 

As sort of a sidenote, straight boots will work on cylinders 1 and 2. The rest have to be 90 degree.