ignition systems?

May 2021 5 169 Report

ignition systems?

i posted some of this question before but i got answers that brought up more questions i got a extra set of 8.8 wires off my camaro when upgraded to 10.5 i want to stick 4 of them in my 4 cylinder stock truck with some high performance plugs one said that it might not mean more hp and it might make the truck run worse i dont see how this is possible the distibuter still puts out the same volts the larger wires allow easier flow for more voltage at the plug and performance plugs and these wires will make a hotter spark burning more fuel providing better fuel milage and more hp wont it? somone told me theres a chance it will burn a whole in the cylinders is this true

Cars & Transportation / Maintenance & Repairs

jim

Verified answer

You won't blow a hole though your cylinder just because of wires. The way an ignition system works, the more resistance the wires have, the more voltage the coil puts out, and the bigger the spark in the engine. Low resistance wires are the biggest scam to hit the market.

catmandew

OK, first let's start with the plugs. Not sure what you mean by "hi-performance". If you mean Platinum plugs, they'll last longer. If you mean multi-electrode plugs, they could help performance, but only if you have poor fuel mixture. If you mean a "hotter" plug, this could be where they meant you could burn a hole in your pistons. You should be very careful with heat range unless you know what you're doing.

As far as ignition system voltage, a coil will only put out as much voltage as is necessary (up to a point). Larger wires, in and of themselves will not "flow" easier. This is a matter of electrical resistance, not physical size. Changing the resistance of your wires will change how hard your coil has to work, but will not change how much voltage it takes to jump the spark plug gap. And if your coil is in good shape, you shouldn't need to lower resistance. Lower resistance wires will just give you static on your radio.

Realistically, Ignition system mods are a waste of time as far as more performance is concerned on a stock motor. If you have made other mods is usually the only time you should even have to mess with this stuff. If it's not working right, you have some other sort of problem that needs fixing.

If you want to learn more about this stuff. I'd recommend you quit listening to your friends or the guy at the parts store, (or asking here) and start reading Hot Rod Magazine or some of the specialty books that they or others publish on these things. There's a lot of hot air floating around out there.

http://www.themotorbookstore.com/ignition-systems....

richard

that last part is not true. They will hold more fire than and 8.8 or 7 wire. they will NOT give that car any more horse as they can ONLY carry what the coil is being told to send out.

It wont run worse, and it wont run better. plug wires only carry the amount of power that the coil will produce. The main advantage to thicker wires is "load" they will carry more load without breaking down the spark. So if you had like a super coil, those wires will handle the extra output that supercoil will throw out.