Those of you running cloth woven ignition wires...

There have been several threads regarding cloth woven ignition wires, where to get 'em, how to run 'em, etc. etc... I love 'em! They're beautiful and just scream "vintage engine".

What I REALLY want, is to hear from those who are running them. The most common are obviously the 7mm copper core wires. They're available by three of our HAMB Alliance Vendors in various colors as well as the ***ociated connectors...

Hot Rod Ch***is and Cycle
http://www.hotrodch***isandcycle.com/

The Hot Rod Company
http://www.thehotrodcompany.com/

and

The Restoration Supply Company
http://www.restorationstuff.com/

So, those of you who are running them, speak up! How are they working for you? Any performance issues? Tell us about the engine and ignition setup you're running the wires on. Posting some eye candy is always good too!

 

Im running the cloth ones on my 37 flattie. Open connection at the plug(no insulated boot). they do have the tendency of popping off when fiddling around the engine or gives you a little tingle when you bounce a wrench off of them I just used my wire crimppers to keep em more snug on the plug!

 

Something else worth of asking... Anyone actually know the impedance numbers on this wire??

 

I used a set from The Hot Rod Company with open Raja clips. Never had a problem with them. I ran them for 4 years in all types of weather, even torencial rains, no problems. I did however have a problem using them with a MSD-6AL. seem the 6AL doesn't like big resistance wires, it would fun for a bit then the 6AL would stop working, turn off the key start right back up, shut down a bit later and repeat. Reading the 6AL owners manual it seems that the thermal overload was shutting things down, then when key off, it would reset the overload.
Planning on using them on the next project also.

 

They do look cool, but what is sort of the cut off year for those? Did early hemi's have cloth wires or is that a bit too vintage. My truck with a hemi is going to be late 50's-early 60's ish and I am guessing that is too late for the cloth wires. But, they are cool though.

Plus, I am going to be running my hemi with the wire covers, so won't be as much exposed wire to see anyway.

These clear ones might be cool:
http://www.thehotrodcompany.com/shopnow/show_item.asp?product_id=spw_clear25

 

I was thinking that maybe they started to go away after the war, which would mean they probably aren't accurate for an early Hemi, but I'm thinking about running them anyway. I think as long as they're done right they look great. I think color choice would have to be thought about. Thinking about making a set right now for my 331, that's in the works, and I'm going to use black with a single color tracer. Nothing too fancy, just a nice subtle detail.

This is EXACTLY the type of feedback I was looking for, right here!! In fact, I was actually thinking about picking up a 6AL box. Now I know my limitations.

Are you guys running solid core woven or stranded? I have a sample sitting here that's copper stranded, not solid core.

 

From 1932 to 1948 Ford used cloth covered woven type wiring for spark plugs and all other wiring even the for the battery cables. in 1949 and 1950 they change the plug wires to rubber coated without a plug boot. from 1951 on they added a boot, they still used a cloth wiring harness thru 1955 for sure, maybe 1956? most all early car makes had this cloth type wiring. anyway the cloth type wires are still available from many suppliers...jdl
p.s. the plug wires are stranded copper.

 

It's scary how much you and I think alike. I've been looking at restoration supplys catalog for the last few days getting ideas. Did you see they have threaded rivets? That rules!

 

Yes it IS scary!! HAHA! And YES!!! I saw those threaded rivet things! Good stuff! Love their crazy catalog!

Yes, quite a few distributors. Not a single one offers an specs on resistance. In fact you're lucky to even get what the insulating material is (PVC seems standard).

 

It is my understanding that plug wire made from solid core / stranded wire
have zero resistance compared to standard carbon core wires. That is why they are used with magnetos. Why go to the expense of running a Mag and have all of that juice stifled by carbon core resister wires?

The issue here might be RFI interference messing with the electronics in the MSD box. If you run wire core plug wires, the static from the un-shrouded ignition wire will cause havoc with anything electronic. If you shield the MSD box there shouldn't be a problem. Solid core wires are used in aircraft ignitions for safety reasons and they go to great lengths to shield everything electronic.

Without the proper shielding solid wires will make your audio systems wine like crazy.

.

 

I run the wires from the hot rod company with rajah terminals on my flathead. Lotsa miles and no problems so far.

 

Sounds like most of the cloth woven ignition wires are not solid core though, right?

 

Mine are Original to the Car.. about the only thing that is..

 

Solid core or stranded wire core are the same. No noise suppression. Unless the cloth covered wires have a shield under the cloth, they have no RFI shielding. To my knowledge none of the cloth plug wire that I have seen are shielded.

 

Gotcha'! I see what you're saying now. And YES! You are correct! No shielding that I can see. I have a sample sitting here and I'll snap a picture real quick. It's a piece leftover that I bought from Sac. Vintage Ford.

 

Here's a picture... looks like tin plated (?) copper strands, PVC liner, cloth around that and then the protective sealer over that.

 

Thank you Scooter, Another good thread start by you buddy.
Rob

 

I run the red/clear wires on my 400 poncho in the '40 Plymouth, and while the interference messes with the shop radio, you can't hear the damned radio over the open headers anyway...

 

Scott,
That is what they call the "Laquered" finish. It is sealed so that it will not absorb fluids. The wire is tinned so that it is easier to solder.
Here is another good reasorce for cloth wire.

http://www.magnetoparts.com/wire.htm

 

327 with Pertronics in a stock dizzy...ran damn good.

 

Good stuff! Keep it going! Great information here!

Let's hear more about other people's setups. I know Django has a setup to show off!

 

Those are what I run. I got mine from Dennis Carpenters for the flathead 8. They are perfect for my application, have the bare metal ends and work well. No complaints here.




******Knuckles

 

I ran the yellow cloth wires with soldered type ends from Restoration Supply with no problems. Great quality.

 

What engine and ignition?

 

My Daimler Hemi is running the red coated cloth as in the above photo , 4000 miles no problems , MSD 6 box & triggered disi , runs great as you've seen & heard Scooter .

 

Yep, I have them on my '36 and my Sportster. I love them. I think if you want maximum power, they are probably not as efficient as the 9mm, but for the look, they are killer.

 

Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD cl***=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">Originally Posted by 32to40
I ran the yellow cloth wires with soldered type ends from Restoration Supply with no problems. Great quality.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
What engine and ignition?
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->__________________

Hopped up H&H built &#8216; 32 B engine with FS ignition

 

Scoot,

Solid core plug wires supposedly cannot be be used reliably with CD ingition systems such as the MSD, Crane Hi 6, Jacobs etc....

They all specify the use of suppression, spiral core wires, not solid core. Having said that I have seen solid core wires run with std elec igns like the Mopar Orange box or Ford Duraspak systems without a problem.

Rat

 

This is exactly what I was thinking. Most modern ignition systems dont work well with solid core plug wires because of the RFI. How would you go about shielding an ignition box from RFI?

 

The best thing to do would be to mount the MSD box inside the car. That way the fire wall acts like a shield. Steel and copper are the best materials to use as shields. Building a metal box to enclose the MSD unit is the best way to shield it. Doing both is even better. Metal acts as the best shield. 18 ga. is ok for steel. .030" is good for copper. .060" thick is good for Aluminum.