Spark plug wires

[caninecaravan]

I have replaced two sets of spark plug wires because they have burned through. My mechanic is currently replacing two wires because of the same problem. We have tried to insulate and heat shield protect them, but this seems to only work for a little while. He says its because Dodge in all its wisdom ran the wires down by the manifold. he thinks that I need to replace the heads and gaskets for $1200 and this should solve the problem. I am open to suggestions. CanineCaravan 1978 Dodge 440 side kitchen

[John Eversoll]

oH please ==== GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!!!!!!!




change the HEADS"?

Why don't you just give him the money..

There is another way and I have the 77 440

YOU can run ther wires over the top like I did..

There is also a Boot Sleeve that you can buy If you are desprate

They are about 17 dollars each... PRO stock race cars use them

There are other ways of protecting those wires..

If the Honey in your kitchen has what we call Aluminium foil"

get some of that bad boy stuff and wrap the crap out of those wires

Remember to wrap the shiny side out!!  that reflects the heat..

I used it on the dog house and the floor by my feet under the carpet..

use it all if you want..  But do not by any means give the guy 1,200 bucks...

You can buy the most expensive
Wires you can find...and they will run you roughly 140.dollars  but you will eventually burn through them as well.
The motor should not have ever been put in that van..
But we are Blessed with it..

[Jranchman]

My 76 440 has wire boots made out of fuel line split then slipped over and placed where they will rub and or burn, has been working fine, although looks a little hokey.

[John Eversoll]

    Hey I like the idea of the fuel line....  wish I had thought of it!!!!

since I have a whole bunch of fuel line I might just give that a try this weekend

Unless you want to do it for me......?  he he he hehe    John

[rjm]

not meaning to hijack the thread, but...

The motor should not have ever been put in that van..
But we are Blessed with it..

i have a cummins donor sitting in the back yard and i am curious...

has anybody heard of a cummins motor being transplanted into one of these van bodies?

[JerryT]

Hi RJM

I have thought about a Cummins but when I got out the tape the 6bt was not going to fit without a lot of sheet metal mods. The 4bt may fit but they are both tall engines and you still need to deal with the air charge cooler, plus the extra weight on the front suspension. If you look at the BIG picture how many miles would one have to drive to even get a payback in increased MPG let alone enough savings to offset the work (lost time) involved. Plus you would be driving a "prototype" just hoping that all your engineering was sound enough to be trouble free. I have thought about what I would do when my 440 gets tired. Diesel is my first thought but with many challenges. Idea #2 was to use a 360 Magnum motor and the overdrive transmission which has a lockup converter from a 1994 one ton van and leap forward to fuel injection and other modern things but the same question remains, where/when is the payback VS the work and $ and the re-engeneering? That leaves me with re-maning the 440 with the 8 + - MPG I get now. I think the 360 MPG is going to be about 10 maybe? as they only get about 12 in a street van. I get mad at the pump when I fill it up but I bought my Clipper because it was nice size and simple i.e. I can maintain/repair it myself. I have most of the bugs worked out of it now, so now I am leaning toward keeping it simple and just enjoying it. Anybody else have any thoughts on this? I would like to kick it around a bit.

JerryT   

[LARRY RAY]

An easy and inexpensive fix is to go the parts house and get a section of what they call stove pipe. It;s the flexable tube that brings heat from the manifold to the air cleaner. Get the aluminum coil type. cut a section of it, slip over the plugs and kinda crimp the end to keep it in place. It will reflect the heat, plus you get some air flow to the inside. I used the 1 1/4 inch size and have had no more melted boots in four years. Hope this helps.

[retrorob]

Look into silicon jacketed wires. Most hi-performace shops(Summit,Jegs) have them. They are kinda spendy but will eliminate your wire burning problem.
Just an after thought; do you have the correct heat range plugs?