Im replacing my spark plug wires on my 1950 Cadillac as im still running the original ones from 1950 but theve become a bit stiff over the past 75 years. my question is I know the original are solid core but is there any advantage or disadvantage to changing to carbon core? or are solid core better since thats what it was built with? any help is appreciated, Thank!
-Joshua
If I remember correctly, my 1950 Cadillac had a carbon resistor in the distributor rotor. I don't know if that would be compatible with carbon core wires. I suspect not. I run copper core wires in both my vintage cars (1940 LaSalle and 1956 Continental). I also use non resistor plugs. They were designed to run that way and that is good enough for me. Standard Motor Parts makes very good silicone jacketed copper wire sets. They are reasonably priced and should last for decades.
When running Copper Leads, don't you also have to run Radio Suppressors to control any interference with the Radio?
The trouble with Carbon filled wires is that don't like constant removal and replacement on and off the Plugs, which one had to do back in the day when performing maintenance on the engines. Carbon Leads like staying in one place, which suits modern ignitions when constant cleaning of Plugs is not required as often.
Bruce. >:D
If I recall the Factory used Packard TVRS cables to sue press AM radio static. TVRS stands for TV, Radio Suppression. It keeps the static out of the AM radio