Plug wires

[RatLabGuy]

I'm having an odd ignition issue, pretty sure at least one of my plug wires are shorting/grounding out.
Yesterday out of nowhere, started running like had only 3 cylinders, nice popity-popity-popity down the road, kinda like a card in a bicycle tire lol.
I noticed one of the plug wires had fallen almost right on top of the header air tube, melted the casing a little, could hear it clicking, so I tied them back a bit, problem went away. Then a little later, running like crap again, in fiddling with them I noticed touching the main ignition wire (one that goes from the module to distributor) I could feel it shocking me, like the insulation is no longer doing it's job.
They aren't terribly old mileage-wise (< 30k), but prob 4-5 years old and plenty of rough life in that time.

Guess I need osme new wires, but this got me thinking... are there wires that are particularly well insulated/protected, designed for the kind of abuse these see? Aside from the dust, dirt, water, muck, grime they get exposed to, alot of shaking around under there as well... I can see your average cheapy casings designed for a car not lasting real long...?

 

[Ron]

I'm having an odd ignition issue, pretty sure at least one of my plug wires are shorting/grounding out.
Yesterday out of nowhere, started running like had only 3 cylinders, nice popity-popity-popity down the road, kinda like a card in a bicycle tire lol.
I noticed one of the plug wires had fallen almost right on top of the header air tube, melted the casing a little, could hear it clicking, so I tied them back a bit, problem went away. Then a little later, running like crap again, in fiddling with them I noticed touching the main ignition wire (one that goes from the module to distributor) I could feel it shocking me, like the insulation is no longer doing it's job.
They aren't terribly old mileage-wise (< 30k), but prob 4-5 years old and plenty of rough life in that time.
Guess I need osme new wires, but this got me thinking... are there wires that are particularly well insulated/protected, designed for the kind of abuse these see? Aside from the dust, dirt, water, muck, grime they get exposed to, alot of shaking around under there as well... I can see your average cheapy casings designed for a car not lasting real long...?

Its all in what you want to speend Dave.
Taylor used to make some bad ass braided coated wires that were damn near indestructable...but they were $150+/set.

I am a big fan of thee el cheapos from AZ/AA etc and a spare set. Combined they will set you back $25 bucks..change once a year or so and viola

 

[Blkvoodoo]

22RE correct ?

I never found a set of premade wires from any of the usual parts stores that were worth a damn.

opinions vary on this as with everything else, I bought a set of ACCEL 8.8 Spiral Core Universal /make your own wires, the plug end is already terminated and booted, you cut to length and terminate the Dizzy end.

I made one set for my '85, still had the same set on it when it left me 10 years later.

One universal set will make 2 sets of wires for the 22RE, I gave the other set to a friend, he just tossed 'em on, didn't make provisions to keep them off the header, he burned thru them in about 2 yrs. I also used dielectric grease on all boots and connections.