Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

ubtripn · 03-09-2011, 04:23 PM

I just replaced my spark plugs and they were sooty black and dry, the truck has HEI and just stopped running. It fired right up after I replaced the plugs but 2 plug wires had actually burned through and degraded the metal on the inside of the boots of the wire. How can I prevent this? I can't move the location of either. Do they have plug wires that can handle the heat? Can I insert some type of insulation between the plug wire and ramshorn or wrap the plug wire end in some kind of insulation?

Also, does the state of the plugs mean I am running too rich? If so, I have an Edlebrock 650 , the front two screws only adjust the idle mixture according to the manual so I don't know how else to adjust the overall mixture?

Thanks in advance for the help, I don't know what I would do without this board or the internet. Accept waste money learning the hard way.

haysonj · 03-09-2011, 04:40 PM

As far as your plug wires you could buy the protectors from Jegs but you may have the wrong type of wires for your application as the stock wires never contacted the manifold. http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...Id=10002&Nty=0

Lee H · 03-09-2011, 05:06 PM

Do you have the stock plug heat shields?

ubtripn · 03-09-2011, 05:55 PM

The heat shields appear to be gone. The PO switched the wires to 427 wires for longer ones? when they installed the HEI, don't know why. Thanks for the solutions!

*Shane* · 03-09-2011, 05:57 PM

had these saved in my favorites ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

ubtripn · 03-09-2011, 06:03 PM

Thanks!

tubbedII · 03-09-2011, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shane

had these saved in my favorites ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

Holy #$%&! That's darn cheap...thanks for the link Shane.

ETsC10 · 03-09-2011, 06:47 PM

The PO probably bought long wires so he could route them the way they came from the factory. I used mid-70's corvette wires (NAPA) on my 327. they approach the plugs from below the maniforld. PITA but once done you'll never regret it. I just learned my sheilds are not quite correct but oh well.

cparman · 03-09-2011, 08:52 PM

I have/had rams horn manifolds on my Blazer/Truck. I bought a set of Taylor spark plug wires for both. I have done a bunch of these. I routed the wires like a late 70's Corvette with HEI. I have no had one burn thru, and the plug wires are a bit hard to see when you raise the hood.

OH, Yea, I ran the front two between the motor mount and the block. I also made a tab to keep them close the the block that attaches to the oil pan. Did kind of the same thing for the rear two wires on both sides. did this more than a year ago. got about 3k on the new engine and this setup

ubtripn · 03-10-2011, 12:05 AM

Awesome solution, thanks!

03-09-2011, 04:23 PM	#1
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! I just replaced my spark plugs and they were sooty black and dry, the truck has HEI and just stopped running. It fired right up after I replaced the plugs but 2 plug wires had actually burned through and degraded the metal on the inside of the boots of the wire. How can I prevent this? I can't move the location of either. Do they have plug wires that can handle the heat? Can I insert some type of insulation between the plug wire and ramshorn or wrap the plug wire end in some kind of insulation? Also, does the state of the plugs mean I am running too rich? If so, I have an Edlebrock 650 , the front two screws only adjust the idle mixture according to the manual so I don't know how else to adjust the overall mixture? Thanks in advance for the help, I don't know what I would do without this board or the internet. Accept waste money learning the hard way. Last edited by ubtripn; 03-09-2011 at 05:52 PM.

03-09-2011, 04:40 PM	#2
haysonj Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Santa Maria, Ca. Posts: 1,423	Re: Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! As far as your plug wires you could buy the protectors from Jegs but you may have the wrong type of wires for your application as the stock wires never contacted the manifold. http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/store...Id=10002&Nty=0 __________________ 69 Chevy 4x4 383 Power

03-09-2011, 05:06 PM	#3
Lee H Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Upland Ca Posts: 4,148	Re: Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! Do you have the stock plug heat shields? __________________ 1972 C10 SWB, Air, PS, PB, 350/350THM. Second owner. 1965 Corvette roadster, 44K miles, 327/365 SHP, 4 speed, side exhaust, knockoffs, teak, second owner (bought in 1970), Have ALL numbers matching components. My frame off restoration thread: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=556703

03-09-2011, 05:55 PM	#4
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Re: Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! The heat shields appear to be gone. The PO switched the wires to 427 wires for longer ones? when they installed the HEI, don't know why. Thanks for the solutions!

03-09-2011, 05:57 PM	#5
Shane Account Suspended Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: over yonder Posts: 14,270	Re: Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! had these saved in my favorites ... http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

03-09-2011, 06:03 PM	#6
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Re: Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! Thanks!

03-09-2011, 06:47 PM	#8
ETsC10 Hand Crafted C-10 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Burien, WA Posts: 5,180	Re: Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! The PO probably bought long wires so he could route them the way they came from the factory. I used mid-70's corvette wires (NAPA) on my 327. they approach the plugs from below the maniforld. PITA but once done you'll never regret it. I just learned my sheilds are not quite correct but oh well. Attached Images Last edited by ETsC10; 03-09-2011 at 07:17 PM.

03-09-2011, 08:52 PM	#9
cparman sharp as a marble Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: atlantic beach,florida Posts: 1,082	Re: Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! I have/had rams horn manifolds on my Blazer/Truck. I bought a set of Taylor spark plug wires for both. I have done a bunch of these. I routed the wires like a late 70's Corvette with HEI. I have no had one burn thru, and the plug wires are a bit hard to see when you raise the hood. OH, Yea, I ran the front two between the motor mount and the block. I also made a tab to keep them close the the block that attaches to the oil pan. Did kind of the same thing for the rear two wires on both sides. did this more than a year ago. got about 3k on the new engine and this setup Attached Images Last edited by cparman; 03-09-2011 at 08:58 PM.

03-10-2011, 12:05 AM	#10
ubtripn Registered User Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,280	Re: Help withplug wires burning up near exhaust! Awesome solution, thanks!



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