Spark plug wires

[Perry M.]

Does anyone know how many feet of Packard 440 wire I should buy to replace my reproduction wires from Electric Life? I found some for $1.00 per foot if I buy 50 feet or $1.30 per foot for 25 feet. Anyone found some for cheaper? This would be for a 63 L84 motor.

[Edward J.]

Re: Spark plug wires

Perry, I can give you the lengths of each wire, #1=49" #2=49" 3=49" 4=45" 5=32" 6=32" 7= 26" 8=26" these lengths are from a lectric limited data sheet I have. I Believe that the original wires from the factory may have varied a little, I can tell you they are a perfect fit at these lengths.( this is a small block)

[Harry S.]

Re: Spark plug wires

Ed, what's the difference between Packard 420 and Packard 440?

[Gene M.]

Re: Spark plug wires

Ed, what's the difference between Packard 420 and Packard 440?

Hi Harry,
I know the 440 wire is stranded stainless steel. No RFI shielding with 440 wire. I would assume the 420 is something else.

[Perry M.]

Re: Spark plug wires

Thanks Ed. That is the info I was looking for.

[William C.]

Re: Spark plug wires

Actually 440 is stranded tin coated copper wires, it is extruded once with an inner insulation that has a high dielectric, then another coat of "rubber" is applied for enhanced weather resistance. There were many variations and all the three digit part numbers were United Motors Service part numbers. Keep in mind use of ANY solid conductor wire in a Corvette will render the radio generally useless.

[Gene M.]

Re: Spark plug wires

Actually 440 is stranded tin coated copper wires, it is extruded once with an inner insulation that has a high dielectric, then another coat of "rubber" is applied for enhanced weather resistance. There were many variations and all the three digit part numbers were United Motors Service part numbers. Keep in mind use of ANY solid conductor wire in a Corvette will render the radio generally useless.

I guess the tin plate fooled me........thanks Bill

Oh, and they make the automatic garage door opener on my garage not work too.

[Ralph S.]

Re: Spark plug wires

I have a spool of 440 it looks like stranded copper wire core. it has PACKARD 440 USA stamped on it.

[William C.]

Re: Spark plug wires

Look closely, anything that was "rubber" coated was tinned back in the day. The plant that made 440 was the first place I worked after I got out on high school. The actual construction is the tinned copper wire, coated with a Dielectric compound, (extrusion process) then rerun for a second coating of neoprene for protection from the engine compartment fluids. The "535" product was the same as 440 except that after the first coat of insulation, a braid was added between the first and second extrusion, added about 15K volts to the breakdown voltage of the finished wire. 30Kv rating if I remember correctly with the added innerbraid.