plug lead replacement options

[theelanman]

Am going to replace the cap and plug leads on my car when I service

Does anyone have any recommendations please


Thanks

[elancoupe]

I have used various plug wires, Magnecor has been the best for me, by far.

[vernon.taylor]

Salut elancoupe

Why ? (Genuine question - I'm intereted)

Merci

Vernon

[rgh0]

I have used Magnecor leads on my Elan for many years now on the recommendation of the guy who built my competition distributors. The have a fancy conductor in them that is supposed to make them perform better but i am not sure if it makes much dfference .but the overall quality of them does make a difference. Lots of information on their ignition leads and why they are good on their web site

http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/main.htm


Electrically they have never given me any problem and mechnically they are very strong and never give any problems when removing and refititng which happens often on a competition engine and they dont appear to deteriorate with age and with engine heat . if i ever needed to replace them which appears unlikely as they are like new after 20 plus years i would use the same.

cheers
Rohan .

[JJDraper]

Magnecor leads certainly delivered the goods for my +2. I fitted a set, with integrated distributor cap and red leads. I bought them from QED at the Stoneleigh show over ten tears ago & fitted in them car park. They made an instant difference, curing intermittent misfires, coughing/hesitation and low speed throttle response. Maybe others as good and the old ones were junk, but these fitted and worked. The only down side so far is that they seem to pick up dirt/oil marks which are difficult to clean off, so after ten years they look a bit grubby.

One less thing to worry about.

Jeremy

[vernon.taylor]

Salut

Well, I didn' find much info on why electrical performance would be better in our TCs - unless you have an electronic engine management system. Seems spiral cables are just to prevent EMI disturbance in these circuits and also to satisy EMI laws (I suppose not to disturb the pace-maker of the guy next to you at the traffic lights). They also do a normal stranded wire for 'restorations and older race cars' - from the Magnecor site:

'The conventional style insulating jacket consists of EPDM insulation, fiberglass reinforcing braiding and a black silicone rubber outer jacket. The stranded tin-plated copper conductor provides no suppression. Made for industrial applications, restorations, older race car engines, industrial engines and other applications where suppression is not needed. This type of cable is illegal for street use in most countries on a automobile unless resistance-type suppressors are attached to provide RFI suppression (as on many German made vehicles).'

However I did find a reference to 'induction cross-firing' - the EMI of one ignition wire inducing a spark to be produced in another. I don't know what the conditions are under which this can occur, but it did say that engine damage can be a consequence of an up to 90? advance in the cylinder with the induced spark.

So, playing safe - both legally and for engine health - it seems EMI-friendly spiral conductors (with a magnetic core) are they way to go. Being more complicated and more fragile than stranded conductors it would follow that well-designed and robust construction is in order - Magnecor have a good reputation in that field.

Other than that there is the hostile mechanical (vibrations) and chemical engine bay environment to resist, again requiring appropriate good quality materials and construction. Magnecor also have a good reputation in that field.

So Magnecor Electrosports 70 or 80 would appear safe bets. Other well-designed and constructed cables should be equivalent, I would of thought. I can't see how there can be any performance increase between one brand of cable and another - just possibly less deterioation as described above.

One last point not considered: spiral-type conductors have a very high resistance (3Kohms per foot for Magnecor). My 'O'-level physics tells me that some voltage will be lost over the wire compared to a stranded conductor. This is probably not very significant dialing in the resistance of the spark plug gap and the voltages concerned.

Just my (probably flawed) logic.

@+

Vernon