I'm considering putting in a new set of 'low ohm' plug wires. We recently put in a Pertronix IgniterII and FlamethrowerII coil.

Am I likely to see any real difference in the way the engine runs, or fuel economy, by switching to better (500 ohm?) wires? The old 7mm wires test out at 5000 ohms.

Any other benefits, or problems to watch out for? Anybody like any particular brand? Accel is about the only thing available locally.

I've been told it would allow the plugs to be set with a larger gap than the .034 std setting. Any recommendations on what to open them up to? .040?

The engine is pretty much a stock 1969 302.

 

Pretty much any of the better off the shelf stuff would be ok. Nothing wrong with the Accels (aside from the horrid color). Napa's Belden wires are good as well, and are a more aesthetic blue.

That said, the next time I buy wires, I'm getting a set of cut-to-fit Moroso spiral-core wires. Lower resistance, good RFI suppression, and they look great

And yes, if you upgrade wires, upping the gap to .040" would help you get a more complete burn.

 

Thanks for the advice. We put in a set of the Accel 500ohm/ft wires yesterday. Just for fun we ohm'd them out to check their advertising claim. They all hit the 500 mark exactly.

I re-gapped the plugs and noticed something odd. The left 4 still looked brand new, which I expected since we changed them last Saturday. The weird thing was the right 4. They all were mustard color on the tips, not glazed. All four looked identical.

It's got me a little concerned.

Any ideas?

 

Interesting....how are your intake and exhaust gaskets on that side?

 

I can't really see the intake gasket, but the exhaust gasket looks fine. I had the valve covers off previously to replace a rocker arm, and there didn't seem to be anything amiss on either side.

Also interesting to note that all 8 plugs I just removed were consistent with each other. They all had a golden brown color to them. These new 4 definitely have more of a yellowish tint to them, and the other 4 almost look like they've never fired. I know they have because the car idles better than it ever has.

Both exhaust pipes (no crossover in the exhaust) give a few drips of water and a little white smoke until it gets warmed up. I thought about it maybe being water/coolant, but wouldn't I be looking for white residue on the plugs? And if both tail pipes are doing the same, wouldn't all 8 plugs look the same if that were it? The water from the pipes has no coolant smell, and is clear.

I've never really been satisfied that the carb is set up right. Could something be wrong there to cause this (on one side only)?