Spark plugs & Wires (Page 2/2)
Vintage-Nut JUN 26, 09:32 AM
Stock/Daily Driver or "Hot Rod"?

Members have different views about the subject and of course, opinions vary.......

Spark Wires:
If you want to use the stock plastic spark wire dividers, don't buy 'bigger' wires.

Spark Plugs:
The standard copper core plugs are 'hotter' than platinum plugs, but copper needs to replace more often.

My Daily Driver Set-Up:
50k volt ignition coil / 7mm wires / platinum plugs

------------------
Original Owner of a Silver '88 GT
Under 'Production Refurbishment' @ 136k Miles

Yellow-88 JUN 26, 10:48 AM
Thanks every body.

I ended up with Standard Motor Products PN #5543. The specs look very similar to the fancy ones at half the price. Also the wire lengths listed in the spec sheet are very, vary close to the OEM numbers. They are 7mm so they fit the stock separators. For plugs I went with ACDelco Platinum. The cap and rotor are Delco. The new parts should arrive tomorrow.

My original wires went 107,000 miles and only leak where the mouse chewed the insulation. No visible arcing in the dark but obvious when I touched the mouse bite. The plugs in it are Bosh with a center electrode and 4 ground tabs instead of the typical 1. ( ?? ) They are still light tan and not very worn.

I think the new stuff will be just fine. Am I missing anything?
Vintage-Nut JUN 26, 05:23 PM

quote
Yellow-88:
I think the new stuff will be just fine. Am I missing anything?



One thing to check as you're looking......the distributor base with the engine block.

This area often leaks engine oil when the 'rubber' seal {O-ring} gets old or hard.
FormulaGT JUN 27, 07:26 PM
Original 36 ish year old wires with 107K? I think ANY replacement wire set will be an improvement! My relatively new to me '88 GT that had been sitting for 13 years before I got it received original ACDELCO R42TS plugs and the above mentioned Standard Motor Products wire set part #10057. I re-sized the wires as most are too long. It was actually relatively easy to do with a little youtube help and proper tools. Other than color correct, they seem like an exceptional upgrade over stock for relatively cheap. So far with 1K miles on it I have had no issues. I have learned in the past that anything other than stock plugs invite issues with other Fiero's I have owned. I tried Rapid Fire plugs and / or Platinums way back when and it was a disaster. Stick with OEM plugs. Seriously. That is my experience. Yours may be different. Best of luck!

[This message has been edited by FormulaGT (edited 06-27-2024).]

Yellow-88 JUN 30, 09:50 AM

quote
Originally posted by FormulaGT:

Original 36 ish year old wires with 107K? I think ANY replacement wire set will be an improvement! My relatively new to me '88 GT that had been sitting for 13 years before I got it received original ACDELCO R42TS plugs and the above mentioned Standard Motor Products wire set part #10057. I re-sized the wires as most are too long. It was actually relatively easy to do with a little youtube help and proper tools. Other than color correct, they seem like an exceptional upgrade over stock for relatively cheap. So far with 1K miles on it I have had no issues. I have learned in the past that anything other than stock plugs invite issues with other Fiero's I have owned. I tried Rapid Fire plugs and / or Platinums way back when and it was a disaster. Stick with OEM plugs. Seriously. That is my experience. Yours may be different. Best of luck!




Hi.

Yeah .... it is remarkable. The old plugs really do look fairly OK. In the 60's 100 K was pretty much time for what was called an "overhaul". Spark plugs were consumables back then. Those of us on a budget would clean and re-gap them. Does anyone on the forum remember breaker points? Anybody still have a point file in their toolbox?

Yellow is coming out of a 5 year coma from being on jack stands outside. ( !!! ) He is cleaning up nicely but there are some issues popping up. I haven't installed them yet but I'm sure new plugs and wires will be OK.
olejoedad JUN 30, 10:57 AM

quote
Originally posted by Yellow-88:


Hi.

Yeah .... it is remarkable. The old plugs really do look fairly OK. In the 60's 100 K was pretty much time for what was called an "overhaul". Spark plugs were consumables back then. Those of us on a budget would clean and re-gap them. Does anyone on the forum remember breaker points? Anybody still have a point file in their toolbox?

Yellow is coming out of a 5 year coma from being on jack stands outside. ( !!! ) He is cleaning up nicely but there are some issues popping up. I haven't installed them yet but I'm sure new plugs and wires will be OK.



Tach/Dwell meter, points files, feeler gages for setting points, various counterweight and spring sets for setting rate of advance.......

Yeah, I got it all.

Need some drum brake tools? I can help there as well.
82-T/A [At Work] JUN 30, 11:05 AM

quote
Originally posted by Yellow-88:
Hi.

Yeah .... it is remarkable. The old plugs really do look fairly OK. In the 60's 100 K was pretty much time for what was called an "overhaul". Spark plugs were consumables back then. Those of us on a budget would clean and re-gap them. Does anyone on the forum remember breaker points? Anybody still have a point file in their toolbox?

Yellow is coming out of a 5 year coma from being on jack stands outside. ( !!! ) He is cleaning up nicely but there are some issues popping up. I haven't installed them yet but I'm sure new plugs and wires will be OK.



I have a "set ?" of points in my toolbox. The only car I've ever owned that used this, was my 1973 VW Bus. I've owned some fairly old cars (I got my license in 1996), but never really had much experience with them. I know you're supposed to use a feeler gauge to measure the distance (or dwell?)... but I don't think I've ever replaced them.

I've been planning on replacing it with a Petronix ignition, but part of me keeps it in there in case the aliens come down and blast the planet with EMP waves. I'll need my VW Bus to still be driveable so I can get away from the zombie hoards.
Yellow-88 JUL 01, 09:43 PM

quote
Originally posted by olejoedad:


Tach/Dwell meter, points files, feeler gages for setting points, various counterweight and spring sets for setting rate of advance.......

Yeah, I got it all.

Need some drum brake tools? I can help there as well.



Hi

I retired from drum brakes. No more drum brakes. I really like my ventilated disks.
" ..... for setting rate of advance". These kids today have no idea what they have available to them.
Does your Tach/Dwell use vacuum tubes? Someone might actually have one that does.
I'm sure that you have a stethoscope and a hiss tube too.