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How do I make MSD wires for E-mag?
- Thread starter FORANE
- Start date
The early Emag installation manuals (attached) have a chapter that details the fabrication of the auto plug ignition leads, using the kit supplied by Emag. It has several pictures of the boots, terminals and crimper that came with their kit. You could use the pictures to source the items needed.
There are plenty of guides if you comb through YouTube.
I have a whole spool of MSD wire if you need any.
remembering from my eary race car days, use a really good terminal crimper, like the MSD 35051. Most all the 8.5mm wires are great, its the teminal connection that makes the difference.
I made a set last year to replace old ones on my dual Lightspeed ignition system. Vic Syracuse has a nice video on fabricating, and recommends a specific crimper:
A couple of things:
1. I think its best to have the bare wire extending slightly into the cylindrical portion of the connector (that clamps around the spark plug).
2. When doing the first crimp, I found its best to angle the bare wire slightly downwards, towards the bottom of the cylindrical portion of the connector.
A couple of things:
1. I think its best to have the bare wire extending slightly into the cylindrical portion of the connector (that clamps around the spark plug).
2. When doing the first crimp, I found its best to angle the bare wire slightly downwards, towards the bottom of the cylindrical portion of the connector.
The connectors that push in on the PMag side are not common parts that come in most wire "Kits" there are lots of threads on here with the actual part numbers. Brad used to give or sell you some if you called but I imagine that's not the case anymore. Someone sourced them but min order was like 100pcs or more.
FORANE
Well Known Member
This is the main question I have about making the wires. What is the part number for the plug on the pmag side?
I searched this site. Most discussion centered around the power connection. The only reference I find states they think it is a Ford edis connector.
Can anyone provide a part number or confirmation of what connector is needed at the pmag?
I found my old invoice from Brad, you are looking for ETCO product DT-1000-HB (brass) 90 degree. It's also shown as DT1000-HB on the ETCO web site
FORANE
Well Known Member
Thanks. With that part number I can find threads discussing it. Sounds like it's unobtainum in small quantities. Add to that a $150 crimper and it's understandable that few make their own MSD wires for E-MAG's.
If anyone has small quantities of the DT-1000-HB I may be interested.
Rdog420
Well Known Member
4) Plug Leads: (500 hr.) Ohm Check all plug wires and examine for evidence of wear or chafing. Lead resistance should be roughly 180 ohms per foot of wire for wire with no “F” markings. Newer wire sets will measure roughly 40 ohms per foot and will be marked “F40” at intervals along the wire
Two of my stock wires started to Ohm out of spec at 4 yrs in service and a couple others were close so they all got replaced by MSD wires.
Yes, I've seen this - and if you move the wires around, you might get different readings. It seems like some of these wires break inside the insulator, and only cause trouble when either vibrating or airflow moves them slightly. The indicator I got was static in my headset - took a while to track down the bad wire.
Similar experience with one of our planes - a little static and a very tiny misfire….ohmed the wires and found two out of spec, so I replaced them. Then upon further examination, I found corrosion right on the connector at the Pmag end on those two. I never cleaned them up and put them back on, but it made me wonder. I check all connections for corrosion during condition inspections now - haven’t found it again. Might have been a bad batch of connectors years ago?
Cth6
Well Known Member
I ended up getting 8mm 2007 Ford Taurus plug wires as recommended on another thread. The wire length worked out pretty well, you have 6 wires to choose from. The 45* plug boots worked out nicely as well.
FORANE
Well Known Member
So the distributor plug end fit the E-MAG'S? Those wires wouldn't be MSD though, correct?
It's a 1995-2007 Ford coil (or more likely, an aftermarket replacement), and the Lycoming application doesn't require a particular brand of wire, just decent quality.
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Cth6
Well Known Member
Correct.
If it's good enough for Vic, it's good enough for me.... SAVE $$$ only 8 left at Amazon
johnpaul44
Well Known Member
Just curious what brand of wires you bought ? I see some really cheap sets and so oem ford motorcraft sets with different prices
Cth6
Well Known Member
NGK 52005
johnpaul44
Well Known Member
Nice its oem ngk and the price is even better
FORANE
Well Known Member
So it looks like the options are source wires from e-mag or buy a set of aftermarket ones such as mentioned above. I still have not been able to locate a source of the DT-1000-HB connectors necessary to make a set of MSD wires.
Don't get me wrong, I am generally satisfied with the e-mag wires. The driving force for me to look elsewhere is e-mag's connector at the plug lacks a positive tactile feel to assure the plug is well attached to the boots connector. The MSD is superior in this aspect alone if not otherwise as well. I have a spare set of the e-mag wires on the shelf in the garage now.
Don't get me wrong, I am generally satisfied with the e-mag wires. The driving force for me to look elsewhere is e-mag's connector at the plug lacks a positive tactile feel to assure the plug is well attached to the boots connector. The MSD is superior in this aspect alone if not otherwise as well. I have a spare set of the e-mag wires on the shelf in the garage now.
jmra72a
Well Known Member
Small quantities of the Etco #DT-1000-HB are available from Tons performance as part number ST-LS-L for $.72 each.
Spark Plug Wire Terminal for LS / LT Coil , Long
BOSCH / GM LS/LT terminal Description: Great for replacement GM car/truck LS type ignition coil terminals or old school threaded tip motorcycle spark plugs. Simply crimp onto your current spark plug wire with pliers or wire crimp and be finished with your new terminal! Refresh your old and worn...
tonsperformance.com
FORANE
Well Known Member
Thank you; just bought a box...Small quantities of the Etco #DT-1000-HB are available from Tons performance as part number ST-LS-L for $.72 each.
Spark Plug Wire Terminal for LS / LT Coil , Long
BOSCH / GM LS/LT terminal Description: Great for replacement GM car/truck LS type ignition coil terminals or old school threaded tip motorcycle spark plugs. Simply crimp onto your current spark plug wire with pliers or wire crimp and be finished with your new terminal! Refresh your old and worn...tonsperformance.com
Still have these ??
FORANE
Well Known Member
Yes, I do still have them but I'm still collecting the parts tools etc. necessary to convert to MSD. So, at this time, I'm not interested in selling them. I like to keep backup parts on the the shelf at home to minimize downtime events. I keep extra starters, alternators, emags, spark plugs, tires, tubes, pressure switches, some avionics, etc.
K thx.. misunderstood thought you were selling..
Reviving this thread. I think I may have a flaky plug wire (s). I want to be prepared for replacing wires. I may replace the entire set since she will be apart.
Does anyone know the correct part number for the P-mag terminal end of the wire?
I see Bill (jmra72a) posted this link above.
There are several Etco DT1000-HB terminals. Which is correct?
How does the straight terminal work in a 90 degree boot? Vic's video shows a 90 degree terminal. All the links show straight terminals. The photo above of the E-mag parts are also straight. I can't find Etco DT1000-HB in a 90 degree. Do you just bend the terminal?
I planned to buy a set of MSD wires. Also buying the crimper and some dielectric grease. Any help appreciated.
Does anyone know the correct part number for the P-mag terminal end of the wire?
I see Bill (jmra72a) posted this link above.
There are several Etco DT1000-HB terminals. Which is correct?
How does the straight terminal work in a 90 degree boot? Vic's video shows a 90 degree terminal. All the links show straight terminals. The photo above of the E-mag parts are also straight. I can't find Etco DT1000-HB in a 90 degree. Do you just bend the terminal?
I planned to buy a set of MSD wires. Also buying the crimper and some dielectric grease. Any help appreciated.
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FORANE
Well Known Member
Hey Larry
I did a bunch of research and comparing parts to the E-mag wire sets that I have before buying anything. Let me say from the start that while I am fairly confident that I have the correct parts, I still haven't had the need to replace them as yet so there's a very slight chance I have incompatible parts.
Regarding your question:
I see Bill (jmra72a) posted this link above.
There are several Etco DT1000-HB terminals. Which is correct?
I believe all of those are correct. From my googling there's a 0.09-0.1 mm difference in ID on the connector between the LSX/LT1 & Etco. Is that enough to make a difference? If you want to wait until the end of this week I will be home and can check. I have a spare E-mag and both these terminals in the garage spare pars shelf.
Regarding: How does the straight terminal work in a 90 degree boot?
I believe after crimping both of these allow for a 90 degree bend to be made in the connector.
Regarding the set of MSD wires you're considering, I would not buy those. I do not believe the E-mag end is a HEI style connector. I believe you need the LSX LS1 style connector. I bought these: https://ebay.us/m/1l4LGg Here's a set of terminals and boots that looks exactly like the ones on OEM E-mag wire sets: https://ebay.us/m/kvFn9t
I, too, was looking into the possibility of MSD wires for my RV7. After perusing their website, and with the confusion that seems to surround the parts involved (maybe that's just me), and since I'm AOG, I decided to go with the stock Emag product.
After a phone call to Hartzell, I was referred to hartzellaviation.com. There I was told to enter EMA into the search bar. This took me to the Emag products page where I found the harness for my Lyc o-360. Part # is EMA75001. $116 for a set of 4.
Shows in stock and I bought 2 sets.
I'll look into MSD next time around.
Jim
This is the MSD wire set I used with my PMags. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/MSD-31239
The Etco terminals I got from Brad at EMag Air and I doubt Hartzell will send you any gratis like Brad did.
The Etco terminals I got from Brad at EMag Air and I doubt Hartzell will send you any gratis like Brad did.
jmra72a
Well Known Member
The link that you list from me on the terminal from Ton's is identical to those used by E-Mag on their wires. have tested it on their actual wire and on the P-Mag itself. Yes, you will need to bend it after crimping it onto the wire. If you locate an older P-Mag manual it will demonstrate how this is done.
FORANE
Well Known Member
Well here it is. From the left that is an OEM E-MAG wire, MSD boot with LSX/LS1 terminal, and terminal for LS/LT coil from Tons performance. They're all the same and fit well on the E-MAG.
Spark Plug Wire Terminal for LS / LT Coil , Long
BOSCH / GM LS/LT terminal Description: Great for replacement GM car/truck LS type ignition coil terminals or old school threaded tip motorcycle spark plugs. Simply crimp onto your current spark plug wire with pliers or wire crimp and be finished with your new terminal! Refresh your old and worn...
tonsperformance.com
Im thinking about the MSD Universal Super Conductor Kit. Then buy terminals seprate. Thoughts?
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FORANE
Well Known Member
That will work assuming the 90 degree plug boots are what you want. Those lengths look adequate. In my installation I have 90 on top and straight boots on bottom.
Bear in mind those MSD wires are 8.5mm and the OEM E-MAG wires are (I think) 7mm. Typical Lycoming wires are even smaller. So, any pass-throughs may be small for the new wires.
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jmra72a
Well Known Member
Check out Tons Performance wire availability. I believe they may have one that is closer to the actual E-Mag specifications.
