8.5 MSD SuperConductor Wires

[Richie_Rich]

My Stepson Eric and I just finished putting on the MSD 8.5 Super Conductor Spark plug Wires.

 

I noticed a big difference in the upper RPM power and overall smoothness of my engine.

 

These wires are advertised as 40-50 ohms of resistance per foot which was pretty accurate.

We measured some Ultra Spark(Cheap from Autozone) and a set of NKG wires and came up with 3500 per foot for the Ultra Spark and 2700 ohm per foot for the NKG's

 

These wire are pretty fat, so they don't fit well in the factory looms.  I'd recommend getting some aftermarket 8.5mm wire separators.

 

These wires are not cheap.  To save money, we bought the universal 8 cyl set.  It is PN 31199.  It cost abot $85 including tax.  The 4cyl set was about $70, so for an extra $15 you get a spare set or you can split it with someone else for their car.  That is what Eric and I did.

 

One problem is that you only only get one coil wire.  There is enough left over to make another one, but you don't get enough boots or conductor clips for it.

Luckily I had some leftover clips and I used some boots from old sparkplug wires to complete the extra coil wire.

I supposed you could remove the clips off your old wires and recrimp them.

 

These wires are shipped with one end off and you cut them to length yourself.  They supply a crimping tool that you use in a vise.  I also have a Mallory tool that came in handy to start the process.  It takes a while to get the procedure going smoothly. You have to hold the wire in the connector, squeeze it to hold it, put it in the crimping tool and them squish it with the vise.  All the time keeping the pieces from coming apart.

 

Another note:  When making the extra coil wire, it seems like these wires only like to be stripped from one end.  (That's the end they leave for you to cut) When trying to remove the silcone jacket from the other end, the conductor wire would come apart.   I had to carefully slice to silcone insulation lengthwise and split it off the wire.

This procedure is similar to stripping non-metallic sheathed cable.(for all the elctricians on the list)

Make sure you dont cut into the conductor wire.

 

All in all, I feel it was definately worth the cost of the wires.

 

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/realmstee....dir=/MSD+Wires

 

Rich

 

PS For Andrew:   The wires are red to match your nice new red distributor cap ;D

[vitamincj]

PICS?

[Richie_Rich]

Added picture link above.

 

There's not much to see.

 

I took pictures of the resistance of approximately a foot of each wire.

 

The crimping block is on the left side of the picture.  The mallory crimpers I've had for years.

 

I still need to get wire separators in the picture of my engine bay.

[Welderwiz]

I have to agree with Rich on this one 8) The wires do work as he states. I have finally got my Quest running after 2 years of sitting and it lites right up almost by bump start. Doesnt need to crank long at all!!! Definitely worth the cost........add in a good coil and plugs and you are stylin!!!

 

Mark

[Tim_C.]

Yes, I have these wires with the MSD Blaster 2 Coil, and the MSD 6A ignition. Noticed an increase when putting the wires on. Revs a tad faster too.

I had the $4 Crane set on there before, and they couldn't handle the MSD. I got those when Crane discontinued them, and everybody was buying a couple of sets.

I have the 8.8mm Accel wires on the CBRII. They are about the same as the MSD 8.5 superconductors, but $10 more. I got my set for $20 new from a friend who could not use them.

[mstieg]

The Accell Thundersport 300+ are pretty good too.  Not sure how they compare to the MSD, but pricewise were only about $50 vs. $70.

[bang4thebuck]

great idea but you can save alot of time by just ordering a set 4 a 1970 454 chevy or a 1970 302 ford. they are already put together and all you have to do is pick the 4 that fit good (with the coil wire of corse) and you have 4 left for someone else or for the next time to replace them. If your friend needs a coil wire too you can cut the coil wire in half and buy the socket end and the straight ended boots when you get them or order them from summit or jegs. you can order a seperate coil wire too if you have to, not expensive. ;D

[StarquestRescue]

Can any one add some current info to this thread. My msd keeps killing plug wires. My hvc 2 coil takes a smaller terminal as well.

 

Lots of options for the 1970 454 plug wires that were mentioned above. Many metion for a hei cap though that i think is differnt style terminal.

 

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/KeywordSearchCmd?storeId=10001&catalogId=10002&langId=-1&Ntk=all&Jnar=0&Ne=1%2B2%2B3%2B13%2B1147708&searchTerm=1970+454+plug+wires

[JohnnyWadd]

I still have a very old set of MSD wires and they hold up well bosch red coil and msd box. Order the standard set it will have the proper terminals.

On summit it shows pictures of what boots it comes with per each set ...http://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-32819

Edited June 23, 2013 by JohnnyWadd

[Richie_Rich]

Wow. Old thread revive.

I can't believe it's been almost 10 years.

 

IIRC, those wire came with both types of dist. cap connectors.

 

Yep. from Summit's page:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-31199

Distributor Terminal Ends: Male/HEI and Female/Socket

[JohnnyWadd]

Wow. Old thread revive.

I can't believe it's been almost 10 years.

 

IIRC, those wire came with both types of dist. cap connectors.

 

Yep. from Summit's page:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/msd-31199

Distributor Terminal Ends: Male/HEI and Female/Socket

 

find a buddy that needs a set and you got two sets for 85 bucks not bad!

[Technology]

I had some stock replacement 7mm wires from CarQuest on my car... 547whp. BAM!