Hello all!

Looking to change up the cables as my car has 71k on the clock.

I figure just out of principle and for good up keep practice, I should do both plugs and cables.

Is there a particular Brand/Make/Model/Measurement etc I should be looking for? Also do they do them in different colours???

Thank you!

Chris

 

I've had good luck using Magnecor wires on my 6 and 12 cylinder Jags. They come in 7, 8 and 8.5 mm diameters. all of which are fine. They come in the correct lengths when you order the set for your specfic car. Look for a coupon at THMotorsports.com. Denso wires are also popular.

 

Magnecor are always good.

But I've had perfectly good results with Bosch, NGK, and other name brands, too. Nothing exotic is required.

Cheers
DD

 

1. A "hot rod" shop usually carries Taylor wires. Nice blue, similar to1. 1. Jag colors .On a rack, sold by length,. Just measure yours and select the closest.

2. Enhance your relation with the nearby NAPA store. They can reccomend and probably provide a good set.

3. I've not looked, but Rockauto had a great set at as great price for my daughter's VW Passat.

4. Do you really need any of that ?

A. Is the car running well? "If it ain't broke, don't fix it ,

B. Wait til it is dark. Runt eh engine, Look under the bonnet, Bad ignition stuff will provide a great light show! A little might be OK.

C. At 71k on the clock, the wires might be just fine. Although just time takes it's troll

D. Pull the spark plugs. One of the wonderments of this engine, so easy!! Report via word or picture as to what you see and I or others will read them for you and teach you how to do it. Caveat, Clean the wells around the plugs first. You do not want that detritus to fall into the cylinders.

Side bar: Did my errands in my Jaguar yesterday, A bit chilly. Set 85 and autofan,
Nice warm air for these old bones .

Carl

Carl

 

Hi Carl

Thanks for all the info.

I will get a picture of a plug. Would appreciate any know how as to wether i need to change them.

I would like to get a colour for the cables as its so damn dark in there. Would be nice to see "some"colour. Personal opinion of course. And i am big on aesthetics with function

Will try that trick with the lights off and get back to you!!

NGK has a Blues set specifically that fits the XJ6 4.2. Not expensive either $22.83 plus shipping + tax. Would this be considered a good price??

WILL BE BACK!

 

Yup !

Cheers
DD

 

Hi all

Attached. Spark plugs. Do i need to change? I would say i do but i am no expert!

 

1. Ditto on the NGK's. Quality product, excellent price.

2. The nice brown color is what one expects in a good running engine. For extra fun, just wire brush off the minor detritus. And for more fun, use your feeler guage, the wire type and check the gap. .025 as I recall. But, check me on that...

3. Clean plugs, new wires are a part of the getting acquainted experience of human to machine.

Carl

 

Color!!

1. Body color on then wing walls
2. Black elsewhere.

3. Silver of the heat shields on the fire wall and exhaust manifold.

4. More silver on the cam covers.

5. White preferably on the engine fan. Caveat, It may have gone yellow.

6. Blue spark plug wires.

All in all very attractive palette.

Carl

 

The color and condition of the spark plug suggests the engine is running well...assuming the other five look the same.

I'd replace 'em on GP, though. Or, as Carl says, they can be cleaned

Cheers
DD

 

This is what the NGK blue wires do for your engine compartment.

 

Very nice !!!

Except for that cacophony of advertising color on the battery !!!

At one time, I sprayed a similar one with black paint, Just not in the theme of my engine bay.

Carl

 

I never gave that a second thought until you just brought it to my attention! Now it's bugging me!! I'll have to do something tasteful with it.

 

Ahhh man that is sexy. Definitely need to get me some of those NGK's now!

Although my actuall engine block does NOT look that polished hahah

Did you remove it for cleaning etc?


Thank you for sharing!

 

@ Doug and @ Carl

I may just change them up out of GP. All new wires and sparks. I will look at the distributor cap a bit closer tomorrow and see what that looks like. Make sure no cracks etc.

Am i right in saying the spark gap should actually be .035?

Thanks again guys!

 

Yes, .035 gap


Cheers
DD

 

No, didn't remove the engine. But did remove the hood. Mostly in preparation for painting the car. But not having the hood in the way really made things a lot easier. It took MONTHS to clean up and detail the whole engine bay. But in my defense I did do a lot of other work in there which stretched the job out.

 

Yeah, Cris, Bill's engine bay is something to behold. But it is the alloy top side you see in shiny, polished alloy. The iron block is not shown. but probably nice as well.

And as to wires an plugs, yup,. Why not as Doug says on GP!!

Caveat on the cap and rotor!!!! What yu have may be better than new!!! Some of the new stuff is not as good.,


In a past project the rotor was really lousy. Engine would not fire. swapped in the old and it fired right up. Off the headers, my warmed 48 vintage V8 Ford snarled .

Side bar: A quality set of HT for my LT1 cost just south of a hundred bucks !!!

But, worth it as they live in a tough environment, down under circa the exhaust !!


Carl

 

Hi Carl!

Beside the cap being cracked what else would be a tell tell sign for me to replace the rotor etc??

Why is the new stuff not so good? Quality??? Build? Material?

Love that inside engine clean look. Not sure i will get there any time soon but slowly slowly!