Burnt plug wires

[Ramrodz37]

Well guys and gals, after putting only 100 miles on Thunder I have my first dillema, Spark plug boot gets too hot from being too close to the header tube, rubber boot crusties up and cracks shorting out the cylinder. I used the Accell 8mm plug wire, Anyone know of a better brand of wire to use????
I used those plug wire sleeves thinking they should help, but NO. I'm thinking I might have to grind a groove in the header tube for a little more clearance,but wanted to test the CR waters first to see if there may be a better brand of wire with a boot that is a little more tollerent to extreme heat.

Glenn, with the burnt boots.

[FRNKNSTN]

I once bought some wires with ceramic ends on them from Summit or Jegs. It was the last attempt at keeping wires on an old truck I had once. The thing would burn every plug wire off of it, and I just got sick of fixing it.
The wires were expensive, I forget exactly but in the end worth every dime.
They might have been Jacobs wires, I'm not sure any more.
If you really want to stop the problem, make this investment, you will not regret it.

[34ford]

:DRamrodz37. The big question is ,,,why are they getting that hot ,,,The rating on the wires are usually very high . To find that the wires are cooking means a problem with fuel .Maybe too much ,,,timing out ? ,,,some thing is definetly wrong . Get an infared thermal temp probe and check the temp of the manifolds .Compair it with another engine and see the difference. Post pictures :eek:
Bob

[Ramrodz37]

Problem is there is not enough clearance at the end of the sparkplug to the blockhugger header tube on the #4 and #5 cylinder on sbc350.., about only enough clearance for the boot to go on,very very close to touching the exhaust tube, so close I can't slide the fiberglass protecting sleeve between boot and tube....THAT CLOSE = too close. Turns out the plug wires are fine, just looking for a boot that is more tollerent to such an extreme heat, like the ones FRNKNSTN talks about, ceramic would be more tollerable to heat than rubber...and it is just 2 of 8 cylinders that give me grief. Option #2 is to take my BFH and dent the tube for a bit more clearance, but I'm thinking that the tubes may just shatter (rather than dent) as they have been heated a time or two. I'll take the shutterbox out and snap some pics, 34Ford,when I get back from the parts store, then you'll get a visual of the problem.

Thanks Guys !

[shifter]

Ramrodz..Try running "shorty" spark plugs...they will often give you enough clearance...Accel and other manufacturers have them.
Mike,

[Ramrodz37]

Thanks for the tips guys,
I ordered some of those Jacobson ceramic plug boots hoping they cure my problem,,,expensive little buggers $140 for a set of 8. I inquired about the "shorties" but them being about 2/3 the size of regular plugs would just move the plug tip to the other side of the header tube, not giving me any more clearance than I have now...I'll let you all know if they work in about a months time. I gotta wait 3 weeks cause they are special order. Thanks again, Glenn.

[Gramps]

I use TAYLOR 8MM Spiro Pro...(mine r perdy Orange)but they are rated at 600 deg F and they have a low profile boot which may be give the that little bit of extra clearance that it sounds like you need.