I am about to replace the distributor cap, rotor, plug wires and plugs soon on my '71 302 Mav. I have a Pertronix Ignitor III and 60kV E-Core, so I was thinking just platinum plugs (Motorcraft maybe?) and 8mm wires (is the graphite better?). I also have heard the brass terminal distributor caps are better for my stock distributor. Mallory looks expensive but not sure why. What rotor works best with the Cap you suggest? Any advice about what works great would be really appreciated!!! Thanks guys! Jory
get copper spark plugs, either autolite or motorcraft. they made by same company to the same standards. the platinum plugs last longer but they create as big of a spark as copper. defiantly get a distributor cap with copper terminals. also get the same brand rotor. usually the premium line of cap and rotor at auto parts stores have copper terminals. also accel cap and rotor kits are a good deal. they just are an ugly color in my opinion. i personally only use accel 300+ race wires. they are expensive but the come with a life time warranty and i have used it many times with no trouble. i had friend that was on a race team that had dynoed every plug wire they could get there hands on and these made the most power for them. i dont like the cheaper accel wires. there boots seem to pull off to easily. same with msd, mallory and taylor wires. over all in the scheme of things you wont notice any real difference in performance if you just go with what ever the auto parts stores have unless you have a high performance motor that demands allot of spark energy. you will feel the new spark plugs. new plugs always seem to help the motor run smoother. i would recommend changing coppers every 5000 miles.
You mean brass? I use Ford Racing rotor and cap w/brass terminals, Ford Racing spiral core wires, Autolite plugs. The graphite wires are resistive suppression and they might not like your high voltage coil.
@bmcdaniel: What is the benefit of the spiral cores plug wires? What Autolite plugs do you use? I know that the current plug wires I use do not like the high voltage coil I'm running. They sure are pretty at night though! LOL!
Mine isnt a race car. Stock ignition so it gets the OEM parts. Being in the trade I am not a fan of aftermarket ignition cables. I like factory parts for the quality and fit. If you go aftermarket go high end like Bryant is suggesting. No in between for me.
Instead of high resistance graphite which can burn out from high voltage/current spiral core wires are actual metal wire wrapped in a spiral around an insulating core to form an inductor that suppresses electrical noise that can upset electronics. You get lower electrical resistance because it's real wire, it won't burn open. I just use the regular, cheap, copper core Autolites, 3924s I think.
Motorcraft is all I will use. I've had several issues with Autolite plugs and more problems with Bosch in Ford engines.
Here's what I use: the large post type big cap (these fit the points distributors too) with brass terminals, Ford Racing 9MM wires, Autolite std plugs. This combo's good for at least three years service between tuneups.
