The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

[David C.]

I have a NEW set of the LL dated plug wires on a car that is going to be judged, and several of them are junk. I will put proper functioning wires on in the meantime for driving. Does anyone have any experience with modifying them to get them to function correctly i.e.within the correct resistence range and no skip? Is the problem with the packard wire itself, or the boot connections?

Thanks for your help

[Mike M.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

the repos have carbon cores and one or two plug wire removals from the plugs and the wire won't conduct electricity as they should. i use Packard 440 steel core wires, make them up myself using the LL boots and terminals. then get a stamp made locally to pass judging.mike

[Christopher R.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

i use Packard 440 steel core wires, make them up myself using the LL boots and terminals. then get a stamp made locally to pass judging.mike

Can you elaborate? I'd like to make up a set for my car.

Is Packard 440 steel core wire available from your FLAPS? Can you tell me some more about the stamp? What's the font? Font size? What'd'ya use for ink? Can you post the contact info for the print shop that made your stamp? (Because they'd know what I was talking about if I called them to order one. Rather than a new guy.)

[Larry M.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

A 100 ft roll of Packard 440 wire carries GM part number #1851208 and ACDelco #440. It can be ordered from GM/Chevrolet Parts Dealers or from AC Delco Parts Houses. GM Parts Direct has a listing and cost: www.gmpartsdirect.com. About $40/roll.

You may also find on E-bay, but the $$ are almost as high for just one car......although the E-bay kits contain all the end fittings. Otherwise you need to get the end fittings separate at places like Restoration Supply Company - www.restorationstuff.com

Mike may have better sources....we'll wait for his advice.

Larry

[David C.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

Thanks Larry - I was going to ask Mike if the #1851208 wire was what he was referencing. I look forward to his info about the stamp maker.

Also, does anyone know if GM part # 12043784 plug wires have a 90 degree boot at the distributor. They are listed at 1966 427 no radio, but I can't find a picture and don't want to spend $40 for an experiment.

Thanks

[Tim S.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

[quote=David Cochran (47373);454723]I have a NEW set of the LL dated plug wires on a car that is going to be judged

I got dinged at Bloomington for these! Well worth the price

[Mike M.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

Did the judges tell you what was wrong with them? I have a set of LL that I bought in 2003 and no deducts in Windsor at the national in 2004. Also car still runs good with them. When I change them I will go the route and make my own. I've heard of to many problems with LL and maybe I'm just lucky that mine are fine. I would also like to know the type of stamp and font size for making my own.

[Tim S.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

No they did not. They were a little evasive to tell me who made the right product. I also, was not impressed with the quality.

[Michael H.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

A 100 ft roll of Packard 440 wire carries GM part number #1851208 and ACDelco #440.
Larry

Larry, do you also happen to have a current part number for a spool of Packard carbon wire?

[Brian M.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

My LL wires have been judged 5 Xs with no deducts, (Windsor included). They are still on the car and preform just fine. I also have them on my 66 Impala for the past 12 years without a problem, maybe the older ones aren't as fragile?

Did the judges tell you what was wrong with them? I have a set of LL that I bought in 2003 and no deducts in Windsor at the national in 2004. Also car still runs good with them. When I change them I will go the route and make my own. I've heard of to many problems with LL and maybe I'm just lucky that mine are fine. I would also like to know the type of stamp and font size for making my own.

[Larry M.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

Larry, do you also happen to have a current part number for a spool of Packard carbon wire?

Mike:

Sorry, but I do not have. I bet Joe L can find it

Calling Joe..................

Larry

[Larry M.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

My LL wires have been judged 5 Xs with no deducts, (Windsor included). They are still on the car and preform just fine. I also have them on my 66 Impala for the past 12 years without a problem, maybe the older ones aren't as fragile?

I purchased my set of LL dated wires for my 1967 327/350 HP car about 15 years ago. They work well and without issue (knock on wood ).

Have a roll of Packard 440 wire waiting for the first time I have a problem. Like #14 Mike and others, I have made and used many sets of Packard 440 spark plug wires. Good stuff.

Larry

[John D.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

My 63 Fi car has a set of the LL wires on it. In fact the set is from Ken's first run. No problems at all.

So the good MD has a fake stamp for the spark plug wires does he. Neat. JD

[Clark K.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

My LL wires have been judged 5 Xs with no deducts, (Windsor included). They are still on the car and perform just fine. Maybe the older ones aren't as fragile?

My car also has the (date coded) Lectric Limited spark plug wire set. My car is a '65 L76 A/C Coupe. The wires have worked fine since I had a shop replace the dreaded "service replacements" last summer. They took no deductions at the Lone Star Regional in October. (Let's not talk about the other items that DID take deductions...I am still a bit sensitive)

The owner of the restoration shop that I use told me that they take some effort to install, especially on an A/C car. He also told me that the carbon core is prone to breaking from rough handling. It is possible, in all that effort to install, to bend a wire enough to break the carbon core. Of course, on the other hand, you may have received some defective product. -Clark

[Mike M.]

Re: The dreaded Lectric Limited plug wires

my solution to the LL plug wires: i buy a set of LL plug wires and use them till they grenade(USUALLY the first time i pull them, gently, from their plug). over the years, i've bought up old stock packard 440 plug wire in a 50' roll.us oldtimers used 440 on our hot rods badck in the early 60's and they never failed. the old packard wire was of a smooth surface texture, much like the original delco wire. about 10 years ago, i ordered a couple rolls of 440 wire from the local delco dealer--its surface texture is somewhat orange-peeled. hence , i look for old(maybe 20-30 years) 400 wire rolls at swap meets. when i make up a set of plug wires using the 440 as the wire, i remove the boots from the LL repo wires as well as the terminals. i slip the LL boots over the old stock 440 wires after the're cut to length. then i attach the terminals to the 440 wires, crimp the terminals then solder the steel core to the terminals.. years ago i took a LL repo wire to the local stationay shop, know to make rubber stamps, and had them make stamps using the LL repo wire as a template. you'll need two stamps for the midyear plug wires. i get a white ink from quanta, pour it on a stamp pad, then stamp the 440 wires. the local stationary shop went out of buisness about 5 years ago after mr walmat and mr staples hit town. mike