Magnecor HT leads
Discussion
Have just had ECU mod done by TVR Power and was told by their ignition expert not to use Magnecor leads as can cause misfires on V8s. Explanation was bit over my head but have changed to bog standard leads. Car runs much smoother and low down acceleration much better, due to ECU and leads. Can recommend them for any work and get a Chimaera courtesy car as well!
quote:?????Sounds pretty wacky! I can understand them being a waste of money (them being expensive & all), but I don't understand how they can cause misfires...
Have just had ECU mod done by TVR Power and was told by their ignition expert not to use Magnecor leads as can cause misfires on V8s.
Does that mean you have some Magnecor leads for sale, he asked hopefully?
Also, what ECU mod did you have done? Do TVR Power do the Mark Adams ECU?
cheers,
Craig
icb - I am very surprised about the comments on the Magnecor plug leads! 
Can you supply any more details? Is there any room for misunderstanding?
To put my cards on the table, Magnecor leads are an item that I use extensively. Over the years I resisted paying the major cash for them, but having tested so many others there was only one conclusion. So now I am a die-hard Magnecor fan!
The construction quality, electrical, insulation, and aging properties of these leads are in a league of their own. If you measure the radiated field strength around the leads, it is significantly less than with other types due to it's unique spiral wound conductor.
Other leading tuners have also reached this conclusion. Indeed John Eales - the undisputed King of the Rover V8s (who did a lot of development work for Land Rover on this engine) uses nothing else.
If you would like to bring your car and leads to me I'll prove to you for free on the dyno that they do not cause any misfire. Fact. Just e-mail or call. You can see the entire process, so no courtesy car will be needed (just as well since there isn't one).
Magnecor leads are also the best choice for LPG powered vehicles. This is because LPG is harder to ionise than petrol, so it produces a higher HT voltage just before the spark strikes. This usually kills inferior leads. I have also found this problem on the various twin turbo and supercharged engines I have set up, which have a similar problem that only Magnecors will sort out.
It is much more likely that the changes to the ECU made the major difference. I have yet to see one of the TVR "Performance" versions of their chips, so I really have no idea what it does for the car. As far as I can tell they have only been offering this product for a couple of years. Do they set it up on a rolling road?
Craig - TVR do their own thing on the ECU front, just like they always have done! For production vehicles TVR's hands are tied by a gigantic tome of emmissions regulations, literally the size of a thick telephone directory.
Can you supply any more details? Is there any room for misunderstanding? To put my cards on the table, Magnecor leads are an item that I use extensively. Over the years I resisted paying the major cash for them, but having tested so many others there was only one conclusion. So now I am a die-hard Magnecor fan!
The construction quality, electrical, insulation, and aging properties of these leads are in a league of their own. If you measure the radiated field strength around the leads, it is significantly less than with other types due to it's unique spiral wound conductor.
Other leading tuners have also reached this conclusion. Indeed John Eales - the undisputed King of the Rover V8s (who did a lot of development work for Land Rover on this engine) uses nothing else.
If you would like to bring your car and leads to me I'll prove to you for free on the dyno that they do not cause any misfire. Fact. Just e-mail or call. You can see the entire process, so no courtesy car will be needed (just as well since there isn't one).
Magnecor leads are also the best choice for LPG powered vehicles. This is because LPG is harder to ionise than petrol, so it produces a higher HT voltage just before the spark strikes. This usually kills inferior leads. I have also found this problem on the various twin turbo and supercharged engines I have set up, which have a similar problem that only Magnecors will sort out.
It is much more likely that the changes to the ECU made the major difference. I have yet to see one of the TVR "Performance" versions of their chips, so I really have no idea what it does for the car. As far as I can tell they have only been offering this product for a couple of years. Do they set it up on a rolling road?
Craig - TVR do their own thing on the ECU front, just like they always have done! For production vehicles TVR's hands are tied by a gigantic tome of emmissions regulations, literally the size of a thick telephone directory.
Well, theres a recommendation if ever there was one!
I use10mm Magnecor leads, and have recommended them to others. The extra cost is justified by the quality of the leads and the fact that they will last forever. I've said before, heat is the enemy of HT leads, and TVRs produce lots of it in close proximity to the HT leads. They have a VERY hard time, and anything less than Magnecors will have a pretty short lifespan.
They also reduce radio interference, and look cool. A must have mod if your leads are breaking down IMHO.
I use10mm Magnecor leads, and have recommended them to others. The extra cost is justified by the quality of the leads and the fact that they will last forever. I've said before, heat is the enemy of HT leads, and TVRs produce lots of it in close proximity to the HT leads. They have a VERY hard time, and anything less than Magnecors will have a pretty short lifespan.
They also reduce radio interference, and look cool. A must have mod if your leads are breaking down IMHO.
Or try taking a look at ACT's web site where they offer 8.5 mm ones for around 90 quid. Rich...
I spoke to TVR power they denied comments that Magnecor leads were not appropriate for V8s, there was a problem with this paticular vehicle, possibly not the leads ? this however is very rare, there are hundreds of TVRs with them running perfectly and anybody with problems like this should return leads for testing / replacement. 10mm are not listed on ACT website but are available at £107 + vat but 8 or 8.5mm are more than enough.
Tim
Tim
Have booked a Motorvation tune up and checkover but I was thinking about starting this off with a new set of HT leads. The ones on at the moment are Rists 1515, which from the service history look like originals when the car was built around 3 years and 9000 miles ago.
Is this a reasonable time to change? I don't want to burn £92.50 plus VAT for Magnecor 8mm leads and 8 extension tubes for no reason but I figured that, even if Motorvation say the leads seem OK, it would make no sense to get the car tuned and then 6 months down the road find the insulation is breaking down. Anyone disagree with my logic?
Hutch
Is this a reasonable time to change? I don't want to burn £92.50 plus VAT for Magnecor 8mm leads and 8 extension tubes for no reason but I figured that, even if Motorvation say the leads seem OK, it would make no sense to get the car tuned and then 6 months down the road find the insulation is breaking down. Anyone disagree with my logic?
Hutch
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