I have a cheap set of what I believe are old Mr. Gasket headers on my 81Z. They don't provide much room at all around some of the plugs. Consequently, I keep burning plug wires. Is there any way around this? I tried making some rolled aluminum shields, but I don't know if that's working as well as planned.

Do all headers have this problem or just my swap meet specials? Is there an inexpensive brand of headers that won't eat the plug wires?

Thanks!

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ThaDex
1981 Z28
1978 LT

You can buy insulating sleeves or wrap to protect your wires.

If the insulated sleeves contact the header though they will melt, which is a downside with those. Otherwise another option is to wrap the header at that location where the plug boot contacts the header.

I had similiar problems until I changed to MSD plug wires. They are expensive like $80, but that is just a guess as it has been a while since I bought them. They were well worth the price as I have not had a problem since. I even had an engine fire last week and the cap melted, but the wires are still fine. You can buy a insulation kit that will also solve the problem or boot insulators it they are your main problem, but I got rid of all that once I bought the new wires.

[This message has been edited by z28smokin (edited March 05, 2005).]

I just bought a set of Accel wires (Didn't have the money for the MSD ones) and although assembling them was an excersise in frustration, the clearance around the headers appears to be just fine.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by z28smokin:
I even had an engine fire last week and the cap melted, but the wires are still fine.</font>

That Z28 WAS smokin! Glad there wasn't a lot of damage.

Thanks for the replies! I'm a brokeass college student, so expensive wires are out of the question. I think I'll try wrapping the headers in the trouble spots.

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ThaDex
1981 Z28
1978 LT

unless the wires are already trash it might be worth checking that they are actually pushed on all the way on the plugs. i have a seat of headers from dyno max and accel plug wires, and at first i think it was no.5 plug wire, it was kinda behind the primary pipe and was hard to push on all the way. the car ran fine but that plug wire was just barely touching the header and burning. so what i did was run the engine untill it got the wires a little warm and easier to flex around and pushed it the rest of the way on with a screw driver.

They aren't cheap-but the best wires IMO are Taylor 409 race wire. I accidentally had one laying on a header runner for about a week of street cruising and when I noticed it-I bent the wire back-no burns or cracks-I did an OHMS test and they were still @ 130 total-AMAZING!! -Jabin

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Gmachinz Sales and Performance
"...updating the level of performance..."

We use both the Taylor and the MSD. Both are exceptional wires.

Make sure you use some silicone grease inside the plug boots. That makes them a lot easier to get on around the headers, especially #5 and #6. Also, use short spark plugs...

www.jet-hot.com (http://www.jet-hot.com) header coating is supposed to cut the temp by 50%. I'll let you know when I run mine in April.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by dalefs:
www.jet-hot.com (http://www.jet-hot.com) header coating is supposed to cut the temp by 50%. I'll let you know when I run mine in April.</font>

As a result what I have found is the throbing burning sensation and peeling blistering oozing puss on your fingers and hands only lasts 3 days with coated headers versus the normal 6 days, when checking jetting after a run.

They are still hotter than F. They don't rust though.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Rick WI:
As a result what I have found is the throbing burning sensation and peeling blistering oozing puss on your fingers and hands only lasts 3 days with coated headers versus the normal 6 days, when checking jetting after a run.

</font>

So I take it that it DOES cut the heat by 50% as the healing time is cut by 50%. Makes perfect sense http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/smile.gif I like that one Rick http://www.nastyz28.com/ubb/wink.gif

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John Wright