Which spark plug wires, distributor cap & rotors are the best?

fleck · 02-15-2009, 05:22 AM

Another one for the 'what's the best to use with my truck' series of threads, I will be doing these 3 items soon and was wondering what everyone suggests. I don't want any fake 'performance' products with bloated prices, I want to get the regular priced stuff (not necessarily 'cheap', even though I settle for spark plugs that cost a buck and some change), but at least the cap & rotor have to be proven in reliability.

I was looking at AutoZone for wires first and ended up at Advance Autoparts, they have the Autolite wire set for $22 so I figured since Autolite is Motorcraft it might be the best thing to get especially since I use Autolite plugs and I don't want to spend $40 on plug wires anyway.

For the cap and rotor, I am thinking of going with the Accel or Niehoff kit. NAPA only has a 'cheap' set and a 'regular price' set, one with serial letters MPE and the other ECH (?). There are other brands I'm looking at: Advance has the Borg Wagner, Beck/Arnley, and Niehoff kits; AutoZone has their own Duralast cap as well as a Beck/Arnley cap and offers Mallory (same as Accel) rotors.

Just wondering what your opinions are. Thanks.

Rearanger · 02-15-2009, 07:41 AM

http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/truth.htm

rurouni20xx · 02-15-2009, 12:46 PM

i would go w/ the autozoo beck/arnley setup as this is fine, i have one on my trk and its been good to me for 55k miles. the motorcraft (factory) stuff on my trk finally died at 225k, the tips on the coil/cap corroded in half and wouldnt take new wires, so i changed the coil/cap/rotor/wire assy w/ autozoo parts at 225k miles. i planned on doing the maintenance b4 hand, just slipped my mind til about 195k miles, and when i went to put the wires on they kept popping off the terminals so i took the wires back and put the factory ones on since i didnt have the money to change everything, and slipped my mind again til the trk would crank unless my main wire from my coil to the distributor was in a certain place and kept falling, trk would die...very interesting 5 miles to the shop to get my windshield changed to say the least. got the stuff and changed it after my windshield was put in and ran like a raped ape ever since. i was planning on using the accel 40k coil and cap/rotor assy w/ larger wires to help my boosted engine but i need to do some more reading b4 i set my mind on spending the money on that or something better.

fleck · 02-15-2009, 09:08 PM

Alright that's two for Beck/Arnley, which is pretty good. They got the cap for $21 and the button for $6 so it's not a wallet sinker.

Have you guys heard the way this guy talks? It's great.

valleyvinyl84 · 02-15-2009, 09:09 PM

Blue Streak!

trish · 08-06-2010, 01:12 AM

you should also replace the rotor inside the distributor cap. Try to tune-up your car it includes plugs (NGK or Denso), wires usually OEM, distributor caps and rotors preferably OEM for both. Use platinum plugs and leave them in along with the wires for 60k or 90k, as specified by the maintenance schedule.

wahl_7s · 08-06-2010, 10:09 AM

I'm a firm believer in original equip. from experience motorcraft platinum plugs,O'rielly sells them at a reasonable price. don,t skimp on wires either if you don't get Motorcraft get a good fitted set no headaches

**chazzone** · 08-06-2010, 11:13 PM

Nothing better than Motorcraft ignition parts for our trucks.

Accell is total crap, btw.

-zz

psykostevo · 09-19-2010, 03:38 PM

Glad to read the advice to stay away from Accel. I was once tempted.

02-15-2009, 05:22 AM	#1
fleck Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Year: 1994 Make: Mazda Model: B3000 Engine: 3.0 Class: 2WD Used For: Work Posts: 359 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Which spark plug wires, distributor cap & rotors are the best? Another one for the 'what's the best to use with my truck' series of threads, I will be doing these 3 items soon and was wondering what everyone suggests. I don't want any fake 'performance' products with bloated prices, I want to get the regular priced stuff (not necessarily 'cheap', even though I settle for spark plugs that cost a buck and some change), but at least the cap & rotor have to be proven in reliability. I was looking at AutoZone for wires first and ended up at Advance Autoparts, they have the Autolite wire set for $22 so I figured since Autolite is Motorcraft it might be the best thing to get especially since I use Autolite plugs and I don't want to spend $40 on plug wires anyway. For the cap and rotor, I am thinking of going with the Accel or Niehoff kit. NAPA only has a 'cheap' set and a 'regular price' set, one with serial letters MPE and the other ECH (?). There are other brands I'm looking at: Advance has the Borg Wagner, Beck/Arnley, and Niehoff kits; AutoZone has their own Duralast cap as well as a Beck/Arnley cap and offers Mallory (same as Accel) rotors. Just wondering what your opinions are. Thanks. __________________ Workhorse? More like 'work, whore'! Owned 5 months and: Silverstar headlight bulbs; New clutch & clutch line, slave & master cylinders; Serpentine belt & belt tensioner; Radiator and a hose, thermostat removed; Spark plugs, battery, & battery terminals; PCV valve and fuel pressure regulator; Fuel filter and fuel pump relay replaced; Air flow sensor and throttle body cleaned Two new tires mounted & balanced; New rear window installed; Several intake cleaning treatments... Last edited by fleck; 02-15-2009 at 05:32 AM.
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02-15-2009, 07:41 AM	#2
Rearanger Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Year: 2003 Make: Ford Model: Ranger 3.0L Posts: 746 Rep Power: 12 iTrader: (0)	http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/truth.htm __________________ 2003 3.0L Long Box, 5spd Manual, 2wd, 3.73 LS, P235/70R-16, Synthetic fluids, Dual by-pass filter system, 60k
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02-15-2009, 12:46 PM	#3
rurouni20xx Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: natchitoches, la Year: 1993 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT Engine: 3.0L V6 Class: 4X4 Used For: Everything Posts: 1,176 Rep Power: 11 iTrader: (2)	i would go w/ the autozoo beck/arnley setup as this is fine, i have one on my trk and its been good to me for 55k miles. the motorcraft (factory) stuff on my trk finally died at 225k, the tips on the coil/cap corroded in half and wouldnt take new wires, so i changed the coil/cap/rotor/wire assy w/ autozoo parts at 225k miles. i planned on doing the maintenance b4 hand, just slipped my mind til about 195k miles, and when i went to put the wires on they kept popping off the terminals so i took the wires back and put the factory ones on since i didnt have the money to change everything, and slipped my mind again til the trk would crank unless my main wire from my coil to the distributor was in a certain place and kept falling, trk would die...very interesting 5 miles to the shop to get my windshield changed to say the least. got the stuff and changed it after my windshield was put in and ran like a raped ape ever since. i was planning on using the accel 40k coil and cap/rotor assy w/ larger wires to help my boosted engine but i need to do some more reading b4 i set my mind on spending the money on that or something better.
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02-15-2009, 09:08 PM	#4
fleck Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Florida Year: 1994 Make: Mazda Model: B3000 Engine: 3.0 Class: 2WD Used For: Work Posts: 359 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Alright that's two for Beck/Arnley, which is pretty good. They got the cap for $21 and the button for $6 so it's not a wallet sinker. Have you guys heard the way this guy talks? It's great. __________________ Workhorse? More like 'work, whore'! Owned 5 months and: Silverstar headlight bulbs; New clutch & clutch line, slave & master cylinders; Serpentine belt & belt tensioner; Radiator and a hose, thermostat removed; Spark plugs, battery, & battery terminals; PCV valve and fuel pressure regulator; Fuel filter and fuel pump relay replaced; Air flow sensor and throttle body cleaned Two new tires mounted & balanced; New rear window installed; Several intake cleaning treatments...
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02-15-2009, 09:09 PM	#5
valleyvinyl84 Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Old Forge, Pa Year: 1984 / 1994 Make: Ford / Chevy Model: Ranger / K1500 Engine: 2.0 / 350 CID Class: 2WD Street / 4WD Extreme Used For: DD / Flight Posts: 370 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (2)	Blue Streak! __________________ The Daily Driver..84 Ranger 2.slow 2wd http://www.therangerstation.com/foru...ad.php?t=35144 The Unit ..94 Chevy K1500 http://www.therangerstation.com/foru...ad.php?t=42042
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08-06-2010, 01:12 AM	#6
trish New Member Join Date: May 2010 Year: 2000 Make: hummer Model: h2 Posts: 29 Rep Power: 7 iTrader: (0)	you should also replace the rotor inside the distributor cap. Try to tune-up your car it includes plugs (NGK or Denso), wires usually OEM, distributor caps and rotors preferably OEM for both. Use platinum plugs and leave them in along with the wires for 60k or 90k, as specified by the maintenance schedule. Last edited by trish; 08-07-2010 at 02:00 AM.
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08-06-2010, 10:09 AM	#7
wahl_7s Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Whittier, CA Year: 2009,01,99,94 Make: FORD Model: F250.ranger,ranger,ranger Engine: 6.4,3.0,3.0,4.0SOHC Class: 4x4,2WDst,2WD,2WD Used For: towing race truck Posts: 97 Rep Power: 8 iTrader: (0)	I'm a firm believer in original equip. from experience motorcraft platinum plugs,O'rielly sells them at a reasonable price. don,t skimp on wires either if you don't get Motorcraft get a good fitted set no headaches
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08-06-2010, 11:13 PM	#8
chazzone Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Camby, IN Year: 1989 Make: Ford Model: Broncco II Engine: 2.9 Class: 4x4 Used For: Everything Posts: 319 Rep Power: 11 iTrader: (0)	Nothing better than Motorcraft ignition parts for our trucks. Accell is total crap, btw. -zz __________________ '89 EB BroncoII, 2" body/3" suspension lift by Duff. D35 front/8.8 rear swap, Camcraft cam, Pacesetter headers, 4.0 radiator,P235 75 15 Michellin LTX
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09-19-2010, 03:38 PM	#9
psykostevo New Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Year: 1992 Make: Ford Model: Ranger XLT Engine: 3.0L Class: 2WD Street Used For: Commuting Posts: 23 Rep Power: 0 iTrader: (0)	Glad to read the advice to stay away from Accel. I was once tempted.
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