Classic Mustangs List Archive

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Mail From: mustang (Brandon Peskin)

I swapped out my wire set about a year ago - just before I got my Tri-
Y headers and magnaflow exhaust system (had stock manifolds on there
before)

I noticed that a few of the spark plug wire boots (on the plug side)
have split open. They haven't been removed/re-attached excessively,
so I'm thinking this is heat-related. Anyone experience this before?
Is there a general fix? Wrap the headers in the header wrap tape? The
wires?

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Mail From: keven (Coates, Keven)

Chances are the boots were not made well if this is happening. I'm
running Dart Windsor Jr. heads (not recommended because of install
troubles) and my boots come so close to the headers I'm really surprised
they don't burst into flames, but they don't. I recommend Mallory
Sprint wires, but they're kind of hard to find. I also cut all my own
wires since my coil is mounted on my fender.

The only time I've had trouble with boots getting too hot is when I
accidentally retarded the timing on my engine so far that the headers
started glowing cherry red! That fried a few of them.

I have successfully wrapped my headers with fiberglass mesh (without the
epoxy) and then roof flashing sheet aluminum to protect my clutch cable
(for the T-5). That works well.

Keven

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: mustang (Brandon Peskin)


On Feb 23, 2007, at 11:49 AM, Coates, Keven wrote:

> Chances are the boots were not made well if this is happening.

Surprising to me though. It was a borg warner wire set. Then again it
did come from the discount auto parts store...



>
> I have successfully wrapped my headers with fiberglass mesh
> (without the
> epoxy) and then roof flashing sheet aluminum to protect my clutch
> cable
> (for the T-5). That works well.

Nice. Thanks for the info

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Mail From: W427 (David)

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Mail From: keven (Coates, Keven)

Intergranular corrosion? Can you tell us more about this? I wondered
why my wrapped section was a lot more brittle than the unwrapped
sections, even though by metal working standards it should be completely
annealed.



Keven

________________________________

From: classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca
[mailto:classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca] On Behalf Of
David
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 3:39 PM
To: Coates, Keven
Subject: Re: [CM] header heat splitting spark plug boots?



Check that you actually got BW wires - we had lots of customer 'aisle
reboxing' at a store I managed so they could get better merchandise in a
cheapo box. You can also just replace the boots with better ones, or
use Nomex or fiberglass sox over the boots, or metal shielded boots
(Bosch style) or coat the headers or wrap just that section of the
headers with heat tape. You don't want to wrap a lot of the header as
it holds the heat and starts intergranular corrosion (whew) from the
heat cycles. This is also why you should get the inside coated if you
coat the outside.

FWIW,
David




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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: keven (Coates, Keven)

BTW, header wrap would probably work better for my application, but I
didn't use it for two reasons. First, I'm really cheap, second,
whatever section you wrap with header tape will get brittle. Even my
sections wrapped with fiberglass you can tell the metal is harder there
than in other places (why I don't know). It gets really hot there.

For your application it would probably work well, although I don't think
you should need it.

Keven

-----Original Message-----
From: classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca
[mailto:classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca] On Behalf Of
Brandon Peskin
Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 3:11 PM
To: Coates, Keven
Subject: Re: [CM] header heat splitting spark plug boots?


On Feb 23, 2007, at 11:49 AM, Coates, Keven wrote:

> Chances are the boots were not made well if this is happening.

Surprising to me though. It was a borg warner wire set. Then again it
did come from the discount auto parts store...

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: ckelly (Chris Kelly)

If this is to be a long term solution, get the headers coated. The coating
is VERY good at reducing underhood heat. You can (cheaper) switch to a set
of black "stock apperaing" performance wires that have the hig heat silicon
boots. I've run Accel wires for years and never had any problem with
splitting. Wraping headers is a good way to ruin them quick. In a
common-as-dirt 350 chebby drag application where you can get another set at
a swap meet for $10, who cares. For a car that will see long term service,
the coating is highly recommended. Not cheap, but it does the job better
than anything.

=====================================
Chris Kelly - ckelly at raceabilene.net
raceabilene.net/kelly/hotrod
Merkel, Texas
Member:
International Hot Rod Association
Abilene Performance Car Association
Falcon Club of America
=====================================


> -----Original Message-----
> From: classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca
> [mailto:classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca] On
> Behalf Of Coates, Keven
> Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 3:26 PM
> To: Chris Kelly
> Subject: Re: [CM] header heat splitting spark plug boots?
>
> BTW, header wrap would probably work better for my
> application, but I didn't use it for two reasons. First, I'm
> really cheap, second, whatever section you wrap with header
> tape will get brittle. Even my sections wrapped with
> fiberglass you can tell the metal is harder there than in
> other places (why I don't know). It gets really hot there.
>
> For your application it would probably work well, although I
> don't think you should need it.
>
> Keven
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca
> [mailto:classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca] On
> Behalf Of Brandon Peskin
> Sent: Friday, February 23, 2007 3:11 PM
> To: Coates, Keven
> Subject: Re: [CM] header heat splitting spark plug boots?
>
>
> On Feb 23, 2007, at 11:49 AM, Coates, Keven wrote:
>
> > Chances are the boots were not made well if this is happening.
>
> Surprising to me though. It was a borg warner wire set. Then
> again it did come from the discount auto parts store...
>
> _______________________________________________
> Classic-mustangs mailing list
> Classic-mustangs at lists.twistedpair.ca
> lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>
> Visit the Classic Mustang Wiki! sauce.donair.org/~cm/
>

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: mustang (Brandon Peskin)


On Feb 24, 2007, at 8:12 AM, Chris Kelly wrote:

> If this is to be a long term solution, get the headers coated.


WHat sort of coating? Supposedly these headers were ceramic-coated
when I bought them...

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: ckelly (Chris Kelly)

Ah, that should be good enough. Made the assumtion that they are plain
steel painted. The tbe temp will still be 400~500F, so that might be
splitting the stock replacement boots.

=====================================
Chris Kelly - ckelly at raceabilene.net
raceabilene.net/kelly/hotrod
Merkel, Texas
Member:
International Hot Rod Association
Abilene Performance Car Association
Falcon Club of America
=====================================


> -----Original Message-----
> From: classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca
> [mailto:classic-mustangs-bounces at lists.twistedpair.ca] On
> Behalf Of Brandon Peskin
> Sent: Saturday, February 24, 2007 11:28 AM
> To: Chris Kelly
> Subject: Re: [CM] header heat splitting spark plug boots?
>
>
> On Feb 24, 2007, at 8:12 AM, Chris Kelly wrote:
>
> > If this is to be a long term solution, get the headers coated.
>
>
> WHat sort of coating? Supposedly these headers were
> ceramic-coated when I bought them...
> _______________________________________________
> Classic-mustangs mailing list
> Classic-mustangs at lists.twistedpair.ca
> lists.twistedpair.ca/mailman/listinfo.cgi/classic-mustangs
>
> Visit the Classic Mustang Wiki! sauce.donair.org/~cm/
>