Plug wires : solid or carbon core?

[Bruce Compton Canada]

I have the engine in my '54 Merc stripped down for detailing, and I'm questioning the condition of the old carbon core wires. As these are easy to change now, I was wondering if I should replace them with solid core. Did they have solid core originally? Thanks : Bruce

 

[BUBBAS IGNITION]

There is nothing wrong with using solid wires , unlesss you are running some electronics etc. Then the noise suppression cables are needed.
A story about noise suppression, whan i was a kid we got our first TV set and it had three channels as i remember. We lived out in the country and a select few cars went by our house each day. I could tell two cars each and every day , a 1958 chevrolet and a 1956 ford crown victoria by the signal on the tv set when they went by..

Speedway motors sells a nice set of carbon "moroso" universal wires that we use quite a bit. Comes with the spark plug boots installed and a universal cap end set up.

 

[tdlmomowers]

Go get a good set of Belden wires at your local Napa store.

 

[paul2748]

Go with suppression wires. Solid core will really screw up your radio. With today's technology, the suppression wires are ok.

 

[Dana Barlow]

2 Suppression resistors can be added,if solid wire is used as I remember,seems to me like one was on coil and one on gen., Who know more?

 

[hefty lefty]

Suppression resistors act to dampen the Q of the tuned circuit formed by the plug wire and capacitance to ground. In a metal bodied car solid core works fine with resistors so long as you have a good ground strap from the hood to the firewall or frame.

Carbon core wires stink and should be illegal. There are high performance suppression wires sold that work well but they are expensive. You need the correct terminals and crimp tool.

 

[paul2748]

Baloney

Carbon core wires stink and should be illegal. T.

 

[blucar]

Carbon core wires vs solid core is another one of those myths like coolant, vs water, non detergent oil vs detergent and thermostats vs no thermostat, that just won't go away.
I like Bubba, can clearly remember the days, during the early '60's, when I had solid core wires on my '36..
The tract that I lived in had garages that faced onto an alley.. I would hear from several of my neighbors every time I drove down the alley and into my garage, especially if it was prime TV time.. The only guy in the neighborhood who was more despised than me was the guy that had a ham radio set.
I believe that it was in about 1963 that all new vehicles had to have "bonded" chassis and suppression wiring.
Suppression wiring, including grounding straps sure improved the radio reception in my '36, especially in fringe areas..