check ignition wires.

[zeeman]

How? I know to look for arching. But how do I check for conductivity, with a meter? Check for resistance? How nuch resistance should a spark plug wire have?

[JoeliusZ28]

good question, one that i wish id know the answer to. I drove around with bad wires for a year thinking they were not the problem until put a new set of AC delcos on and viola everything was perfect.

[Fox Slaughter]

Argh. Put the multimeter to Ohms.
Depends on what wires you have.

MSD Heli-Core is 150-1200 per foot.
MSD 8.5mm is 40-50 per foot.

Look at the company for specifics.

Usually if they are arching they will find ground and you will hear what sounds like an exhaust tick which obviously will get faster with a rev.

[zeeman]

Yeah, they're not arching. I sprayed them down in a dark garage, no light show. I'm just being thurough, going back to basics. Compresion test will follow likely.

[hoogiesngrinderz]

Was this after the header install?

If so, you might be getting lean knock

[zeeman]

It is reading some knock but not enough to pul lany advance.

[zeeman]

So when I did all the work to my engine I put a new set of a/c delco wires on it. After replacing the opti with a new msd unit, I figured, What the heck I'm here. I misted the wires with water and shut the garage lights off. While the plug wires were fine, I can't say the same for the coil wire. What a light show! So I replaced the wire. Its a lot smoother. But last night, I noticed it arching to the vacuum line for the opti. I've never had an issue like this before. Is this common?

[zeeman]

It is still arching to the water pump and to the vacuum line, and anything else it wants to. This cant be normal.is it? Ive never had wires do this before. I had to buy a whole set to get the damn coil wire and it still arcs!
These are a/c delco wires. Should I try a different brand? Im lost here.
I also noticed a faint glow on the coil, next to the heat sink at the winding. Ive never seen one do that before, is my coil bad?

[JoeliusZ28]

Definitely doesnt sound typical, AC delco wires have been flawless for me. Kind of confused how you are arcing to a water pump, that shouldnt be anywhere close to your wires.

How are your wires routed on the passenger side? They should be routed behind the accessory bracket away from the belt... often people put them up front where they are dangerously close to the belt. I don't think this is your issue just throwing that out there.

[zeeman]

The coil wire comes out of the opti behind the water pump. If I loop the wire up and then back down to the coil, it arcs to the maf. So I loop it down below the coil and back up to the opti. Tha t puts it near the water pump arm where it mates to the water jacket on the front of the block.
I have the plug wires run in the factory keepers on the front of the engine.theyre away from the belts and accesories. On the sudes I used some after market looms and ran them under the headers. They are secure, and not burned.
Sorry, hope this makes sense, I'm more than a little frustrated.

[hoogiesngrinderz]

I'd question why it's jumping to a better ground.


Think of spark like water, it will take the path of least resistance.

[zeeman]

You got me..... path of least resistance? Everything is brand new.plugs, wires, cap and rotor, distributor, Its got me scratching my head.

[JoeliusZ28]

What is your spark plug gap set to? What spark plugs?

Ive found that LT1s definitely like a narrow plug gap (least resistance). I usually target .30-.35 Id also question the coil wire, possible you just got a bad one somehow.

[zeeman]

Just to be clear. This is the second set of wires. Did the first set in november. That set the coil wire was horrible, I just swapped it out over last weekend with the coil wire from another set I just bought.


The plugs are standard a/c plugs. AI gapped them to 50. That is/was recomended gap.

[JoeliusZ28]

How does it respond with this 3rd coil wire?

A smaller gap will probably help you. IMO the factory gap and spark temperature are both a little more than the LT1 actually likes. Just speaking from experience there. When i was experiencing similar problems someone recommended i run either a TR6 or autolite 104 gapped .045. My car ran better with that configuration than it did on TR55s with the recommended gap. I just remembered my .035 gap is for my additional compression.