Headers and Plug Wire Clearance Issue

**pajeff02** · 03-05-2010, 06:15 PM

I installed the coil packs on the car tonight and ended up with another clearance issue. On the passenger side, the front two plug wires (#2 and #4)want to lay on the header. I tried rotating the the connection at the coil to gain clearance but it didn't help much. I am working with Kooks headers and MSD wires. The MSD wires have a straight boot that does not have much give. Did I buy the wrong wires or am I not doing something right?

**Cutlass** · 03-06-2010, 04:17 AM

is it like this?

Maybe you can trim the corner off the boot or tie the wire up a bit to gain clearance.

**pajeff02** · 03-06-2010, 04:41 AM

That's about right -- only on the other side of the engine. The MSD boots are kind of long and I was hoping to run DEI sleeves on all my wires. I thought about shimming my coil pack up a bit to pull the wire away from the pipe. I have to head out in a few minutes, I'll try to post some pics when I get back this afternoon. Thank you!

**0rion** · 03-06-2010, 05:26 AM

you can bend those msd boots to any angle you want. Just take it off the plug and bend the shit out of it.

**pajeff02** · 03-06-2010, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by 0rion

you can bend those msd boots to any angle you want. Just take it off the plug and bend the shit out of it.

Did not know this -- I'll give it a try.

**pajeff02** · 03-07-2010, 06:03 PM

Ok -- the 0rion "bend the shit out of them" method worked wonders and I now have clearance. I did not realize there was enough of a sleeve in the wires to hold their shape. I actually ended up bending them just a bit more than is pictured. Thanks for the tip -- I really think you should add a note to the header install sticky about the plug wire mod as I had not read this anywhere previously.

**0rion** · 03-07-2010, 08:35 PM

glad it worked out for you.....the "bend the shit out of 'em" method works on a lot of things.

**sjsingle1** · 03-08-2010, 10:16 PM

hmmmm.......wonder if i will have to do the same on my headers

**0rion** · 03-09-2010, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by sjsingle1

hmmmm.......wonder if i will have to do the same on my headers

what brand of headers? Probably will have to give a little bend to a couple of them regardless of the brand but it's a case by case thing. I think on pacesetters I had to give a little bend to #3 and that was about it...probably didn't even have to but wanted the extra room. I've seen header heat dry out and crack boots if they're too close. FLP's on my buddies vette are real bad about doing that.