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Plugwire Ohms

BlackBourbon

BlackBourbon

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I posted this in the TBI forum too but the garage gets a ton more traffic and I need a quick answer so I can get my Burb back on the road. If mods wanna delete one please delet the one in the TBI forum. Thanks in advance. Anyways, here's what I posted....

Did a bunch of searching around and didn't find what I wanted. I just smoked a set of ACCEL plugwires in like 1500miles. I didn't do any research bfore I bought them and now know they are garbage.

I am looking at Taylor wires from Summit cuz that's what I hear a lot of good things about on here. Question is, do the ohms have to be a certain amount for TBI setups? For example here are the two sets I am lookin at but one set is a little more for a lot less ohms(aka better spark). I just don't wanna grab that set and have problems. The two I'm looking at are the Spiro-Pro and the Thundervolt. Different Ohms, core material and diameter. On the Spiro-pros it has a note for TBI Only whereas the Thundervolts don't.

In Summit's magazine it says the the Spiro-pros are 350ohm/ft and the Thundervolt ~50ohm/ft.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TAY-74628/

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/TAY-84628/
 
So I began responding by bringing in Bernoulli's Equation (mechanical/fluid standpoint but virtually identical in the electrical sense) but decided otherwise because the bourbon was talking more this evening than the common sense...

The truth is that like your plug wires, there is not a linear gain between diameter or resistance decrease and performance. Therefore, take a good look at your application (coil output), division into number of cylinders, distance the charge must travel, and frequency (cooling or temperature). The main difference between the same diameter wires (cheap and expensive) is the specific conductance or efficiency of conducting electricity (oh yeah, and the brand stamped on the box!). More than likely, you won't need anything over an average priced set of 8mm wires...
 
manchildau65 said:
-The truth is that like your plug wires, there is not a linear gain between resistance decrease and performance.

-The main difference between the same diameter wires (cheap and expensive) is the specific conductance or efficiency of conducting electricity (oh yeah, and the brand stamped on the box!).

-More than likely, you won't need anything over an average priced set of 8mm wires...
Click to expand...

ok man:rolleyes:

Your first statement basically says I won't gain performance from resistance decrease.......
Less resistance means more power to the plug (unless decrease in ohms doesn't let more current through, but what do I know I'm just an Aviation Electronics Tech)


Your second sentence states that a better conducting wire(less resistance;)) is what makes a difference, contradicting your first statement.

Lastly, I clearly stated that I just burnt a set of "average priced set of 8mm wires"





My whole question is: Does the Ignition system/ECM for a GM TBI 350 require a specific amount of resistance in the plugwires?
 
thanks man. i just ordered the thundervolts. i screwed up though and didn't see they were backordered:doah: won't ship till the 29th:mad:

EDIT: Called Summit, switched colors from blue to red. saved 7 bucks and they ship tomorrow:D
 
I ordered some ebay red 8.8's and got the same ones you're ordering. They weren't to expensive but work great on my 91 tbi.
 
BlackBourbon said:
ok man:rolleyes:

Your first statement basically says I won't gain performance from resistance decrease.......
Less resistance means more power to the plug (unless decrease in ohms doesn't let more current through, but what do I know I'm just an Aviation Electronics Tech)
Click to expand...


And he's right......

The spark is a pulse of about 45,000 Vdc. Since it is pulsed it acts like an AC signal traveling down the surface of the conductor.

The ohm meter you would use to measure the resistance of your new plug wires is totally irrelevant, other than proving that sales gimmicks work.

Think resistance vs. impedance there "electronics tech"
 
readymix said:
Think resistance vs. impedance there "electronics tech"
Click to expand...

Haha, I actually read back over it later and realized what he was tryin to say. I also re-read my post and I hadn't meant to come off as such a douchebag...:doah:

oh well, prolly not the last time I will open my mouth and insert foot:D
 
No problem man... my response was a little long winded anyways. Hope you have the wires all figured out.
 
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