Okay, I am getting prepared to do a tune-up on the 20 ft. beast and I am wondering what kind to go with. Yes Neal, I know you said MSD but a guy told me that I need a MSD ignition as well ??? Personally I think that is a crock !! A major distrubutor here recommends Accel 300+ Racing Wires, Ford Motorsports and maybe even Magnecor stuff. What is better, I know that you want low resistance per foot ??? Now remember, I have a '94 with a 302, no mods here just a plain jane engine with a K&N on the front and an exhaust on the rear. I am not looking to drop major dollars into a complete ignition system, just looking for a normal tune-up. I will be running the Bosch Platinum +4's again for spark plugs.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

I like Accel 300+ Race Wires, but Ford OEM wires would be fine for your application. I also prefer Champion Truck plugs, but you sound sold on the +4's. Other than that, any brand cap and rotor will work just fine, but opt for ones with brass inserts. I'd recommend buying a set of spark plug wire separators just to ensure that your wires don't touch anywhere after the cap (Ford 302's are notorious for having a cross-fire condition when the wires are too close). Make sure you apply a thin layer of dielectric grease to the inside of the spark plug wire boots (both ends). Replace the fuel filter if it's got 30k miles or more on it. Beyond that, you could remove the IAB valve/solenoid and clean out the valve with Brakleen.

Take care
~Chris

 

Hey Izzy,

I have a 1996 302 with K&N (drop in), Gibson SI/SO, and Superchip, much like yours. I got ford motorsports 9mm plug wires, seperators, cap and rotor last summer (The cap and rotor didn't look any different to me than the regular stock). I used the platinum plugs from the dealer.

Don't have any great stories about "feeling" the differene or anything, but I feel very good about the quality of the plug wires, compared to other pieces of junk I have seen and used in the past.

I thought that the price was in line as well. I would definitely use the Motorsports again.

My $.02 -- Martin

 

What I am trying to do is make the most of what the truck can do with out spending toooooooo much money doing it. Also I am trying to extend my tune-up periods to two years due to the amount of driving that I do. I would be doing a tune-up about every year. Say for instance the OEM wires that I have on now has a resistance reading of 1000 ohms / foot and I can spend a little more money and get Ford Motorsports, Accel or MSD wires with 100 ohms / foot then all the better. That is all that I am trying to do, make the truck run better without getting carried away doing it !!

PKRWUD, I like the platinum +4's. The truck starts up a lot quicker than before and as for power, didn't really notice anything major. If I had that original spark plugs with my oxygen sensor problem, I could have done damage or at worse case scenerio, fouled the plugs up. Since these plugs have 4 electrodes, it makes it hard to have problems with them.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

Where can you find the Ford Motorsports wires at?

 

McCarville Ford Tuneup kit is what i would recommend:

McCARVILLE FORD'S TUNE-UP SPECIAL...OUR SUPER SALE CONTINUES! STILL ONLY $89.00!!

This tune-up kit is what you need NOW to keep that pony of yours roaring! It comes complete with your choice of MOTORSPORT 9MM Silicone Wires in your choice of colors...RED, BLUE or BLACK! MOTORCRAFT Copper Spark Plugs, Cap and Rotor with BRASS terminals, PCV valve and Fuel Filter complete the package. This kit normally would retail at $139.00 but at MFM Racing we continue to offer you More For your Money...ONLY $89.00 To compliment this kit we offer COLOR KEYED 9MM WIRE LOOMS for an additional $7.95! Shipping, handling and insurance to most destinations in the continental U.S. is only $10.00

MCFORDPARTS@JUNO.COM

http://www.mcford.com/

They can setup the package for different fords also. That should get you and idea of that needs to be done on a tuneup. Other things to do to the truck:

-set the timing to 12-14* with the spout connector removed
-clean the MAF if equipped
-set the TPS to .98v
-clean the EGR valve out
-remove any air silencers and get a K&N filter

Other than that, make sure you keep on fluids like the tranny, transfercase, axles, and cooling system! Flush as needed, replace the thermostat and radiator cap to keep everything in top condition!

 

Ok Matt90GT, what is the ohms/foot of the Ford Racing wires ???? I know the Accel Racing 300+'s are like around 100 ohms/foot.

Actually RCO in London, Ontario has something similar to that for the $139.95 range. It even comes with a bottle of fule injector cleaner too.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean

 

I do not know personally. Check the Ford racing website.

Lower is not better! There is an acceptable limit to operate in. That lower is better is all marketing. Someone did a writeup about that to explain it. Sorry, do not have it handy.

 

Good point Matt. Many of the wires used by the race crowd are up in the 250-350 ohms/ft range. The key is to transfer all the energy, with resistance being a secondary consideration.

Izzy,

Just food for thought...... My truck is a '95 5.0 4x4 with pulleys, K&N with modified intake, Gibson and a Jacobs ignition. By far the best bang for the buck in the long run is the Jacobs. The SOTP performance gains were at least as good if not better than the other mods, and the fuel savings will pay for the unit.

My truck was 13.4 average in town before the system, 15.5 after. My worst mileage since the change has been just shy of 15 mpg and this included towing 5000 lbs for almost half the tank.

Even if you don't do a box, spring for some good wires and a coil, and open the gaps up. With my box I settled at .065. I have run them as large as .085 with platinum plugs.

Also, you might want to try other plug combos. I have done some fairly extensive testing and actually found that my truck likes the Champions with the box. I haven't used the +4s as Jacobs recommends against them with a box, but I have found that plugs can make quite a difference in performance, idle quality, and fuel mileage. Everything to gain and nothing to lose. On my truck I can change plugs in under 30 minutes.

 

Just to let you guys know. I have found a Ford Racing shop in London, Ontario (RCO) and they sell the Ford Racing 9mm Wires which are made by MSD !!! Go figure !! They have a resistance of less than 50 ohms / foot and come in Blue, Red, Black and soon yellow (Yuck). They sell for $83.44. The Ford Racing Cap and Rotor has the brass terminals and sells for $24.99. Now, I sit and wait and get ready to do the tune-up since I now have the +4's to put in too.

Have Fun & Keep on Truckin'
Dean