well i finally got around to ordering a set of taylor wires after deciding i probly shouldnt wait anymore on elite wires to get straightened out. So with this set on the way what am i lookin at for an install? is it a few hours in a day a full day or just devote a weekend to it? ill probly be doin some playin with the driveshaft while its down for this as well to get a vibration out, but thats irrelavent. ive never installed a set of plug wires on an lt1, but this is the otvc set with hooker headers isntalled so it shouldnt be too bad right? or am i in over my head lol.

 

It took me a total of 2 hours to do the job. The hardest part I thought was tearing off all the existing wires from the stock setup. I removed everything though, all the hangers and heat shielding.

Not a bad job, and you'll be glad you did it later.

~Jim~

 

I just got my Taylor wires done last weekend, but I was also doing other projects at the same time. You will definitly want to out and get a spray can of silicone lub...

the first thing I did was layout the wires and put the longest throug the looms for #8, then next longest for #7 and so forthe till they were all on the looms andthe looms were not fully tightened, then mounted the looms to the VC.

What I did then was start on the driver side, it is the easiest and will help you get used to what you are doing, since there is more room on that side. I think that side took a few (like 3) hrs, most of which was putting the boots on the first 2 wires (about an hour each), then I found a quicker way to do it...

At first I was measuring the wires adding about 3/4 inch for the wire to be spliced out of, then putting the boot on cutting the insulation shething off and then crimping the terminal on, and finally sliding the boot back down to where it needed to be. This sounds easy but sliding the boot was a bitch...

After doing this for the first 2 wires I changed it up a little and did i this wasy for the rest and it worked well:

• with it in the looms, put the plug end on the plug then measure it to the terminal on the opti it goes to - done above the car
• add ~3/4" you'll need for the wire core to be wrapped back and crimped into the terminal, and cut it there - done from under the car
• get your boot and a pair of needlenose pliers stick the pliers into the end of the boot that first goes over the wire and expand a couple pulls, rotate the boot 90* on the pliers while pressing it on further and give it a few more pulls to expand the boot a little, repeat about 4X's (this makes it much easier to slide the boot on and there was no issues with arching or anything)
• cut the shething on the wires to expose the core, ~3/4", with a paire of dykes taper the edge slightly so the boot can go on smootly
• spray the boot and wire (obout only the first 2.5") with silicone lub
• push the boot on till you have enough room to crimp the terminal on (this way your are only sliding rubber on rubber for about 2-2.5" rather then the 3.5" I was doing for the first few wires...)
• crimp the wires on per the Taylor instructions
• slide the boot back down to where it should be refeing to the stock ones
• plug it into the opti and moe to the next wire repeating the steps above...

Depending on how you wanted to route the pass. side depends on what you have to take off. I took almost everything off to get a good view and more room to work. This included Alt, PS pump (just unbolted not removed), cooling fan assem....

All in all it took me about 5hrs, but like I said those first 2 took me about an hour each untill I started on the method above...

Good luck...

 

wow routing cutting an crimping only took you 2 hrs, it took me about that long just to do the pass side after I figured out a decent system of doing them, how are yours routed on the pass side? Mine are going around the back of the alt and down between the WP and accessory bracket...

 

Its not a hard job, but something you will have to devote an afternoon too. It took me about 4hrs. total, but I had the precut wire kit from Elite at the time, if I had to cut/crimp my own wires, I would have to factor in a little more time.

 

ran a set of msd super conductors overhead in about an hour used loom that bolt to the valve cover bolts looks real clean

 

The driver side took me all of 10-20 minutes. I had the AIR out and with the headers it was a breeze to get them to fthe plug. I do not have a picture but my pass. side runs up from the opti and over one of the alt braces. Then I came over the valve cover and down. I zip tied the wires were i feel they need to be, such as down near the wp and near the alt. I was going to go under the alt. but I have 8.5 wires and i did not want them getting hot or rubbed by the alt. so I went over and around sort of.

I forgot to mention the WD40. That will save you a headache and a half when makeing the wires slide into the plug boots.

If you want pictures I can Email them to you this weekend when I get back home.

~Jim~

 

Thanks for the info everyone, looks like ill be devoting tuesday afternoon to this project, the plug wires should be here monday and ive got tues. and wed. off from work, so ill have wednesday if i need it lol. Looks like the most famous tip is wd40 or silicone lube for sliding the boots on, whats the best thing to use for cutting the wires and trimming the shielding off?
and perhaps if anyone has pics of how you routed the wires that would help me a lot too, but im sure ill figure that out once im under the car

(also doing thsi with hooker LT headers installed with no emissions, so perhaps that will make my life easier lol)

 

well post-op it took me about 6 hours (hardest part was routing the wires on the pass side and getting some of the connectors onto the opti.. i think i spent 1 hour easily on one of those boogers... ended up moving getting up walking away comign back and it fell right on ) Anyway appreciate all the advice everyone, the silicone lube was especially a great tip, ended up bein able to push em all through by hand usin plenty of that stuff (apparently the thunderracing kit comes with a nice sized tube of it) turned out to be well worth the trouble because the car is runnin 100x better now, found one cut plug wire and one that was burned.. both on the pass side at the back =/. one afternoon traded to save me $200 on a shop install well worth it lol. (and after doing the project i think 200 is a reasonable price lol)
anyways just wanted to thank everyone for the tips again! appreciate it.