Extensions on the dizzy cap to ignition leads

[zippee]

Morning,
Possible stupid question but here goes;
I replaced my ignition leads last night on my 97 Chim with Magnecor performance ones. On fitting them to the distributor I noticed what looked like extensions between the end of the old leads and the cap. They're about an inch long, and fit on to the end of the lead and then fit on to the dizzy cap. What are they and is it OK to remove them as some of my leads are a very tight fit with them being there?

[Nuggs]

Not something I've seen before Zippee (maybe this was standard but changed by the time mine was made). FWIW, I replaced my old leads with Magnecors a couple of months ago - just put the leads directly into the dizzy cap. All works perfectly...

[tvron]

I fitted magnecor leads and removed these extensions due to tight fit .In doing so cured my hesitancy problem as I ran car with new leads and then removed extensions and noticed improvement,Just another connection that appears to do nothing

[targarama]

The extensions are supposed to stop your leads getting frazzled on the manifolds.. They're Vauxhall items, about £8 each from them, or £3ish from Tim at Act - the same place you probably all bought your leads from.

These parts do break down/lose their conduction over time. Replace them - easy peasy.

[zippee]

targarama said:

The extensions are supposed to stop your leads getting frazzled on the manifolds.. They're Vauxhall items, about £8 each from them, or £3ish from Tim at Act - the same place you probably all bought your leads from. These parts do break down/lose their conduction over time. Replace them - easy peasy.

Targ,
The extensions I mean are actually on the cap and about an inch long encassed in rubber.
I actually replaced the plug extensions with new ones from Tim - one of the old ones actually fell apart when taken off so I think changing them was a wise move.
Cheers
Tony

[Nuggs]

zippee said:

I actually replaced the plug extensions with new ones from Tim - one of the old ones actually fell apart when taken off so I think changing them was a wise move.

one of mine did the same during the replacement process; literally disintegrated in my hands!

Anyone replacing their HT leads should deffo pay the extra few quid and get the plug extenders too. Magnecors and extenders available here

[targarama]

zippee said:

targarama said: The extensions are supposed to stop your leads getting frazzled on the manifolds.. They're Vauxhall items, about £8 each from them, or £3ish from Tim at Act - the same place you probably all bought your leads from. These parts do break down/lose their conduction over time. Replace them - easy peasy. Targ, The extensions I mean are actually on the cap and about an inch long encassed in rubber. I actually replaced the plug extensions with new ones from Tim - one of the old ones actually fell apart when taken off so I think changing them was a wise move. Cheers Tony

Doh! Sorry. Should have read your post more thoroughly. The extensions you mention do sound odd. My car didn't have them. Maybe they're some kind of extra suppressor.

[GreenV8S]

Those gizmos between the distributor cap and the leads are not standard. Perhaps a previous owner added them to try to cut down radio interference or something? I suggest you chuck them away, at best they're doing no good and at worst they could be interfering with the spark. Fit decent quality leads (Magnecor are my favorite) and use plug extenders to keep the leads away from the exhaust headers. You can get all these bits via ACT.