Recommendation for V8 Wedge ignition leads required.....

[briantvr350i]

Happy New Year boys....

Started the wedge up last weekend to go for a quick warmup lap of the local villages.

Found two problems, alternator not charging, resolved by replacing the crimp on connector at the back of the alternator... Now shows 14 volts or thereabouts with engine running.

Other problem more serious, bad misfire engine running on 5-6 cylinders.

Got running on 6-7 cylinders by swapping a couple of plugs and plug leads, conclusion, it's eaten another set of plugleads.

So 1st job, replace plugleads... but what with...

So I'm open to suggestions, there are "OEM" or aftermarket ones for sale on fleabay or the boys in Lincoln. I've had a set of Magnacore (red) leads on which gave good performance while they lasted, I destroyed 5 or 6 just changing the plugs last year. (Has anyone any suggestions how to get round this problem?)

Also, I know it's difficult to tell with wedge wiring, but which terminal (+ and -) on the coil should be connected to what? IIRC two white wires run to the rev counter in the dash. The wiring diagram I have aren't that much use. Please bear in mind that I have the electronic distributor.

Regards,

Brian (and a Red Wedge!)

[Wedg1e]

briantvr350i said:

Also, I know it's difficult to tell with wedge wiring, but which terminal (+ and -) on the coil should be connected to what? IIRC two white wires run to the rev counter in the dash. The wiring diagram I have aren't that much use. Please bear in mind that I have the electronic distributor.

Regards,

Brian (and a Red Wedge!)

White/black is the coil (-), comes from the ignition amplifier. It's the same wire that has a bullet connector in it (around the airflow meter) that triggers the fuel ECU.

[Act Daft]

I purchased a set of these about 12 months ago with not great expectations, however to date they have performed very well with no issues.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HT-Leads-Rover-V8-SD1-Ig...

[briantvr350i]

Thanks for the info concerning the wiring....

Are the lengths OK on the fleabay lead set? Even OEM ones don't seem to be spot on some are a bit tight others a bit long.

Regards,

Brian

[Act Daft]

briantvr350i said:

Thanks for the info concerning the wiring....

Are the lengths OK on the fleabay lead set? Even OEM ones don't seem to be spot on some are a bit tight others a bit long.

Regards,

Brian

Yes the lead length is ok similar to OE lengths, they are numbered but I didn't follow the numbering and matched them up to the leads that I took off.
I Had to buy a different king lead as the one provided was about half the length I needed so I bought a meter length and a couple of fittings which cost about £6 -£7 and made my own up.

I looked at the Magnacore leads and almost bought a set.

The Powerspark ones are less than half the price and the quality and fit is impressive for the price.

12mths on and I've just changed the plugs again and checked the leads, they're just in as good condition as when I fitted them.

Tim

[simonwedge]

I bought a set of (expensive) Moroso leads which then had to be cut to length and ends crimped on - which also meant i had to buy a proper crimping tool.

The spark plug ends were already fitted but I had to fit the dizzy ends myself. This was fine until I changed the dizzy cap about 12 months later, at which point half of them fell to pieces.

I then bought a set of Bosch ones off the shelf from Halfords - all the correct lengths straight out of the box with both ends ready fitted and good quality. They're a little smaller in diameter than the Moroso ones but no difference in performance.

I know which ones I'd choose if I were buying again!

[V8 Fettler]

Run the engine in the dark, observe engine bay and look for sparking from the leads.

[mrzigazaga]

I have gone for a set of these, I learnt with the 280i not to buy leads that are too cheap..I have had ends pull off and boots split..Not saying that the ones first put up are in this bracket but i tend to go for a mid-range item..Cheers...Ziga


http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&...

[Number 7]

Having experienced the longevity (and apparent lifetime guarantee) of the Magnecore products, I eventually slung them and made up some Moroso leads bought from Real Steel. No problems in the 4 or 5 years they've been on so far.

[GV]

I went for Magnecors and I had the Morosso type previously. So far no issues with the Magnecors but I am of the opinion that the Bosch equivalents are just as good and will go for those should I have any issues next time round...

[carob]

Bosch ones for me prior to the MS2 being installed. No problems whatsoever. Had the Magnecors fitted to the 350i I had and ripped them out as the wedge didn't like them and installed the Bosch ones there also with no problems.

Rob

[carsy]

Number 7 said:

Having experienced the longevity (and apparent lifetime guarantee) of the Magnecore products, I eventually slung them and made up some Moroso leads bought from Real Steel. No problems in the 4 or 5 years they've been on so far.

If you want the best quality go for these. They are superb and the quality will hit you in the face as soon as you open the box. Only down side is you have to cut to size and crimp one end yourself. Easy job and you can get all the lead lengths spot on.

I have also used the Powerspark stuff and had no problems but i would be looking at changing these fairly regularly though to be on the safe side. The difference between the Powerspark and Moroso is night and day.

[K4TRV]

simonwedge said:

snippity..................I then bought a set of Bosch ones off the shelf from Halfords - all the correct lengths straight out of the box with both ends ready fitted and good quality. They're a little smaller in diameter than the Moroso ones but no difference in performance.

I know which ones I'd choose if I were buying again!........snip

Just can't go wrong with the Halfords Bosch set (I sprinted my Chimaera for 5-years and replaced the leads each year - at around £30 per set, great value for money and for reliability)

Trev

[carob]

K4TRV said:

Just can't go wrong with the Halfords Bosch set (I sprinted my Chimaera for 5-years and replaced the leads each year - at around £30 per set, great value for money and for reliability)

Trev

This ^^^^^^

Rob

[chedder]

Bosche ones!As has been said, good quality and do the job
Chedder

[briantvr350i]

Thanks for all the replies boys...

I've now confirmed (and corrected) what I had suspected for a while... the coil was wired the wrong way round! I've now added a + and a - to my wiring diagram.

I've now got a TVR that runs on all 8 cylinders, and the nice man down at euro car parts is ordering up a set of Bosch ignition leads for me because I'm not 100% happy with the £25 "OEM" ones which I put on about 18 months or so ago.. (seems Euro Car Parts have recently been appointed a major distributor of Bosch parts)

Oh... and the alternator charges the battery as well, bonus...

Regards,

Brian (and a Red 350i)

might even make the South Yorkshire meet @ the Stockyard tomorrow...

[Act Daft]

SY meet tomorrow? Thought it was the 19th 3rd Sunday of the month. Must get myself off to one not been for a couple of months

[briantvr350i]

Sorry Tim,

SY meet is next weekend, getting ahead of myself...

Regards,

Brian (and a Red Wedge!)

[Act Daft]

Brian if your going let me know and I'll nip up for a chat, I'm usually the only Wedge there, so it would be good to have another wedger to talk too


Tim (White Wedge)

[briantvr350i]

Hi Boys...

Sorry to resurrect this old thread...

Has anyone any part numbers for the Bosch ignition lead kit for an '86 350i S2

My local supplier is having difficulty...

Regards,

Brian (and a Red Wedge!)