Hi all,

I've just upgraded my ignition to electronic from points. I'm running a chrysler distributor, MSD coil, and the GM HEI controller. I was considering the accell 8mm graphite wires on sale at Mancini, and went to see if my local place carried them as well (they often will price match). They weren't able to get them, but the guy there told me he thought the graphite cores on an 8mm wire would provide TOO much resistance and I wouldn't get good results with them. He thought a spiral core wire would be better.

Anyone else have any thoughts on this? I've simply got my 7mm stock replacement wires on there now, running autolite 925 plugs, gapped to .045 as was suggested elsewhere.

Thanks as always!

Probably the best plug wires available for the slant are the Magnecor items—the blue Electrosports 80 or black Electrosports 70 items are more than sufficient, no need to get the more expensive KV85 ones. Really, nothing terribly exotic is needed. A stock set of wires specced for a '73 Dart with 225 will do just fine. If you don't use the Magnecor wires, shop around for something that uses a spiral core. BWD-Borgwarner sold such wires as of a few years ago; since I bought the Magnecors I haven't been in the market and so don't know what's changed since then. Graphite-core or fibreglass-core wires are OK, not great. IOW, your parts guy was right.

Now, how'd that electronic conversion work out for you? What coil did you wind up with? Notice any change right off the bat?

Well glad to know the parts guys (this one's been around a LONG time) aren't always sending you in the wrong direction. I'll have to check and see what 7mm wires I ended up with on the car. The previous owner had me install some wires, but I don't recall what brand...perhaps autolite or xact. Hopefully not Xact, I've had bad experiences with them in the past.

I've not had a chance to drive the car yet. I was working last night to get the distributor in and didn't quite finish. I also haven't got a timing light yet so I wanted to make sure I didn't futz up the timing when I R&R the distributor. My light should arrive tomorrow in the mail.

I ended up getting an MSD Blaster 2 coil for < $30, so with the $30 on the distributor and $15 for the rotor and HEI, I did ok on this. I guess about $5 more in wire and assorted connectors, most of which I had lying around. I wasn't able to find the smaller solderless connector for the hei so I'm going to have to experiment with that a little to make sure its going to stay on well.

I'll post a few pics when I have a chance.

MJ

I just pulled down the Magnecor catalogue. The 6008/6508/6708 (7mm, 8mm, 8.5mm) wire sets for the pre-'78 slant-6 aren't as spendy as I'd remembered; they're about $39 to $44 depending which variety you get. And they are really high quality wires that should easily outlast a couple sets of lesser wires. So, maybe that is the way to go after all for you, if it fits in your budget.

A set of those wires + a NAPA Echlin long-tip rotor # MO-3000 + a good cap + Blaster 2 coil + HEI module will easily support plug gaps of 0.045" to 0.050".

Crimp terminal for the mini pin on the HEI module:

NAPA Belden 784383 (for 14-16ga wire)
NAPA Belden 723131 (for 18-22ga wire)

Thanks for the p/ns. Magnecor might be a little overkill. Not in the current budget, but we'll see what ones I have at home. Then I'll report back and figure out where to go from there. Thanks!

MJ

I run 8mm Accel's on my car and am very happy with them.Paid less then $20.00 on the bay for them.Deffinately a improvement over stock wires.

JZ

Do bigger plug wires really make that much of a difference on a bone stock slant.

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82 D150-225/727
02 Dakota-3.9/5 speed
87 GMC C7000-8.2 Detroit Diesel/5+2

No difference on a stocker, unless your stock wires are worn out (arcing).

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

I have autolite professional wires, #96620. I can't find any information on them, but suspect they should do the job just fine even with me new ignition components. Yea or nea?

MJ

I run AutoLites with a life-time guarantee.
Change them every year.

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aed
/6>V8

High-resistance wires. Run 'em until they start making problems, then put in something better. The idea of using the "lifetime warranty" given on çrappo parts as a sales inducement to keep getting new çrappy parts to replace old çrappy parts is...imaginative, but it's sort of like revving your engine in Neutral and wondering why you don't get anywhere.

I bought those 'crappy' wires once, 15 years ago. They've worked just fine ever since running a Pertronix and Accel SuperStock coil. I also get a new set every year for nothing.
I call that cost-effective.
A stock motor will not realize the added expense of large wires.
How long will they last for no noticeable difference?

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aed
/6>V8

well why don't I take them back and get something else if its a lifetime guarantee, etc. Its not exactly a stock motor, or won't be when I'm done. Will be slightly modified with intake, cam and exhuast. nothing major.

Well it seems i'm limited to my advanced auto parts since that's where these came from. lemme see what they have...

Sounds wasteful as all heck to me. Trash that gets thrown away doesn't just magically disappear off into a wonderful place called "away", y'know...ever visited a landfill?

Do it once/do it right, that's my philosophy.

'cause usually those lifetime guarantees stipulate that you'll get another set of the same thing. They're not awful, they're just plain ol' carbon-string wires. You may as well run them and save the immediate bucks and effort for other stuff. If/when they start to make a problem or get in your way, worry about it then. Perfection is an unattainable goal that frequently gets in the way of reality.