Spark Plug Wires

RalphG

RalphG

Well-known member
Plug wires on the 52 Merc date to the 1960s at least and are the solid core wire type. If I was to consider replacing them would it be better to go with carbon fibre or try to keep the original style? These wires put out a tremendous amount of interference on am radios and the older type tvs yet are not visibly damaged.
 
I guess the question would be how often do you listen to the radio or watch tv with the Merc running nearby?, I’d probably go with the wire thats most original.
 
corvette8n said:
I guess the question would be how often do you listen to the radio or watch tv with the Merc running nearby?, I’d probably go with the wire thats most original.
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:D Interesting side note on that. Back in the sixties when we'd ride in the Merc to visit Grandma in town the neighbour across the street used to say he always knew when my dad was driving up in the Merc by the lines on his tv screen. :D
I'm still running those same spark plugs and wires today.
 
One thing I've found that if you run solid wires, replacing the coil to distributor wire with a piece of suppression wire helps a lot with interference. Every spark impulse goes through the suppression wire, but the long runs to the plugs are unimpeded by extra resistance.
 
Where else are you going to find that old classic static these days? Keep the static for the memories it brings.
 
If your car is still 6 volt running any type of suppression wire is not a very good idea from what I have experienced in the past. Carbon fiber suppression wire works great with 12 volts for sure. But at six volts the actual spark potential compared to the original style solid core type plug wires may be reduced.
Ronnieroadster
 
Thanks for the replies. Sounds like I'll stay with steel core wires if I do change any. What I needed most was a new end on the coil wire where it plugs into the distributor. I was able to salvage one off a old wire today and attached it. Should be good.
 
RalphG said:
Thanks for the replies. Sounds like I'll stay with steel core wires if I do change any. What I needed most was a new end on the coil wire where it plugs into the distributor. I was able to salvage one off a old wire today and attached it. Should be good.
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Ralph, in case you missed my post, changing just the coil wire to suppression wire really helps with AM interference. Try it; it's easy and cheap, and works.
 
tubman said:
Ralph, in case you missed my post, changing just the coil wire to suppression wire really helps with AM interference. Try it; it's easy and cheap, and works.
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Thanks. I'll give that a try if I can find one to experiment with.
 
Not only neighbor's televison sets, but while sitting at red lights or when a car passes you, their radios will have static too. Not many folks will know why though.
 
I put a set of parts store suppression core wires on when I needed them in a hurry. Didn’t really make it run horribly. But when I replaced those with a hand made set of solid core wires, the difference was enough to feel it in my seat. This is on a 12 volt flathead with a crab cap distributor. I don’t have a radio so can’t hear any static.
 
fredM said:
Not only neighbor's televison sets, but while sitting at red lights or when a car passes you, their radios will have static too. Not many folks will know why though.
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Now, that right there is more than enough reason to get rid of any suppression wires you may now have!
 
I think that static escaping from my solid wires must be good for my pacemaker as I always feel recharged after driving one of my old fords.
 
Copper wires are best for performance as they present less resitance to the spark transmission than carbon core or carbon core spiral wound wires. Its worth noting that most electronic distributers recomend the latter types as copper wires put out a signal that interfers with the distributer function.
 
RalphG said:
:D Interesting side note on that. Back in the sixties when we'd ride in the Merc to visit Grandma in town the neighbour across the street used to say he always knew when my dad was driving up in the Merc by the lines on his tv screen. :D
I'm still running those same spark plugs and wires today.
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Where do I buy me a set of spark plugs and leads nowadays that will last me 60 years???
 
Some Packard 440 and Rajah terminals from "The Brillman Company" should take care of the plug leads part of it. You're on your own with the plugs. (Hint; it is not those triple electrode things from J.C. Whitney.) And I already looked; they don't make iridium plugs to fit flatheads.
 
RalphG said:
:D Interesting side note on that. Back in the sixties when we'd ride in the Merc to visit Grandma in town the neighbour across the street used to say he always knew when my dad was driving up in the Merc by the lines on his tv screen. :D
I'm still running those same spark plugs and wires today.
Click to expand...

When I was dating my wife in 1964 my father-in-law said he could tell when I was coming as the TV went whaco. They lived on a farm about 3/4 of a mile from the highway. Probably gave him time to load his shotgun. LOL. He actually liked the dumb kid from town!
 
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