plug wires... grassroots take on them interests me

[tastyratz]

Reading an article on grassroots motorsports web page came up with this:

Ignition Wires
Ignition wires are free in Solo's Stock class: the rules state they may be replaced with pieces of any origin. From the data we've collected, it's a worthwhile modification.
Replacing the brand-new stock wires on our BMW 318ti project car with a set from Magnecor gave us around two additional horsepower at the drive wheels, while our Neon got a three-horse bump when we replaced the stock wires with some hot ones. Installing a set of performance wires on our Honda CRX project car didn't unleash any more power, but the new horsepower curve was both smoother and no longer fell away at the top end.
In testing with a variety of cars at our Dyno Day events, we've found that nearly every vehicle benefited from having the stock wires replaced with quality aftermarket pieces from companies like Magnecor or Ignition Equipment. We found consistent power jumps in the two- to three-percent range; that's pretty significant. Plus, performance spark plug wires don't cost that much. Figure $50 to $150 depending on the application.

now ive always told and been told that plugwires are useless unless your bigtime fi with a hella ignition system/plugs/etc. but what about that? grassroots motorsports is someone id consider a reputable source so i mean it seems to differ from everything ive thought and been told. they seem to claim it dyno proven as well..... discuss.

[misnomer]

now, I may just be talking out of my ass, but I figure getting spark plug wire power is the same as fuel filter power: It generally happens when the old ones are worn. If age or wear has increased the resistance in your plug wires, it will result in less spark at the plug.

[orion::S14]

Yeah...compare a set of brand new OEM Nissan plug wires vs a set of Magnacore...I'd bet there's no difference on the dyno.

- Brian

[nightwalker]

Ngk Ngk Ngk Ngk Ngk!

[old_s13]

Originally Posted by orion::S14

Yeah...compare a set of brand new OEM Nissan plug wires vs a set of Magnacore...I'd bet there's no difference on the dyno.

- Brian

back when i did have plug wires, i didnt buy magnecor because they made more power.. i bought them because they are some of the best wires you can buy for cars with plug wires.. and, their price is good.

so.. if you want stock, buy stock. if you want kickass aftermarket, magnecor rocks.

[orion::S14]

^^^ Not my point...I am ordering some Magnacores to replace my 4 year old NGK wires sometime soon...

I meant to say that replacing old, worn out wires with new OEM wires will yeild power, and so will replacing those same worn out wires with Magnacores.

Maybe Magnacores will make 1rwhp more, but they are both better than any +6 year old wires.

Simply put, they would have made power if they were using anything other than the old ones..

- Brian

[allmotorKA]

Originally Posted by orion::S14

...
Simply put, they would have made power if they were using anything other than the old ones..

Read the first post again...the BRAND NEW stock wires of the BMW 318 were replaced with Magnecor which yielded a 2 hp gain at the wheels. Yeah, thats not much but...

[tastyratz]

something about that concept though is the thing. everytime you go on forums people always shoot off about the stock ignition system being fine on cars. the fact that they could replace plug wires that were brand new with good aftermarket ones and gain power proves the many faces (including me) wrong that something like that isnt a power builder. regardless of 4hp 2hp whatever it made power and made it smoother so i feel more educated in a sense reading just that...

[kandyflip445]

http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/main.htm

They have a lot of info about wires and what the differences between their wires and the other aftermarket/OEM wires.

[nightwalker]

I would like to see an independent place give me info, other than Magnecore who is giving you info in their favor.

[wootwoot]

i stand by that every single time you dyno a car, it will be different even if the variables are identical. there will still be some discrepency generally

[sxavior]

Even a 4hp gain is not going to be much, if it is legit. Were talking solo here not drag racing. Majority of solo races i go to are not won by hundredth's or tenth's of a second. And a couple horses might get you half a tenth of a second. Better to spend your hour install time on seat time.

[idlafie]

Originally Posted by nightwalker

I would like to see an independent place give me info, other than Magnecore who is giving you info in their favor.

For a pretty good explanation as to the difference between stock wires & aftermarket wires, click on the attached link...
http://www.bcae1.com/
Putting it simply, smaller, thinner wires can't pass as much current/electricity as bigger thicker wires...something to do with resistance.
Electronics 101 also helps!!!
ID

[kandyflip445]

I'm glad to see someone suggesting that site other then me. That site has a LOT of good info on electronics.

[tastyratz]

people generally associate performance wires with size. its not the biggest wire that performs the best its the wire with the lowest resistance composed of the best materials. good wires tend to be a little bigger but in no way do they need to be excessively large to be the best.

[MakotoS13]

i play guitar. some of the best wires you can buy are monster cables. why? they have gold plated ends and very conductive internals to cut down on as much noise as possible.

four wires feed your motor enough spark to combust gas a whole lot over a short period of time. better quality electrical components would deliver a better spark which could very well smooth out the power band because the power band is based on the wires' ability to transmit energy to the plugs. this happens very rapidly over a relatively long period of time so i can see how a company specializing in this technology might improve over a stock application.

fenders, however, are NOT good to replace with aftermarket pieces. sigh.

[tastyratz]

. oops wrong thread

[AlligatorBling]

im running a set of kingsbornes, really good prices. the site has a lot of good info too.

http://www.kingsborne.com/

[old_s13]

magnecor = good. why? because they're not excessively priced

monster cable = bs, way overpriced.

Originally Posted by MakotoS13

i play guitar. some of the best wires you can buy are monster cables. why? they have gold plated ends and very conductive internals to cut down on as much noise as possible.

four wires feed your motor enough spark to combust gas a whole lot over a short period of time. better quality electrical components would deliver a better spark which could very well smooth out the power band because the power band is based on the wires' ability to transmit energy to the plugs. this happens very rapidly over a relatively long period of time so i can see how a company specializing in this technology might improve over a stock application.

fenders, however, are NOT good to replace with aftermarket pieces. sigh.

[S14DB]

Magnacor's "Truth About Ignition Wire Conductors"

[sykikchimp]

Originally Posted by wootwoot

i stand by that every single time you dyno a car, it will be different even if the variables are identical. there will still be some discrepency generally

I agree with this completely..

stick any car on the dyno, and run it 3 consecutive times.. I bet you will get 3 different numbers.. likely +/- 5hp. to say that the increase was b/c of the plug wires sounds like more of an assumption to me.,

[MakotoS13]

Originally Posted by old_s13

magnecor = good. why? because they're not excessively priced

monster cable = bs, way overpriced.

didn't say they were affordable. they're awesome in terms of quality, though. found some cables that are similar but a lot cheaper, forgot the brand though...

wait... you hate something i kind of like... I HATE YOU! on the graves of my acestors i swear E-vengeance for this E-tresspass!