Advice needed plugs and wires

[DEDon]

Hi, Everyone. I'm a new member. I can't believe it took me this long to find this great forum! I'm computer savy but, perhaps I'm not the sharpest pencil in the drawer and never googled astro forum.
I'll try to be brief.
I purchased my 2001 Astro LS Passenger van in 2003 with 28k miles and six months left on the factory warranty. It was a "GM Certified Used." I've always maintained it well. But, with 97k miles on it in September '09, it spun a rod bearing and I elected to go "long block replacement." In Oct of '09 I had a new long block and install kit (18K Miles ago) put in by "Frick and Frack" ("on the cheap side -the corner, mechanic-wanna-be's") for $650 labor. I now suspect that one of those two cheap "mechanics"<using the term, losely> stole my wires and plugs from the "install kit" and kept them for himself (he drives an s10 with a 4.3). I have had a number (3 separate)of ignition issues, beginning about four months after the install and, most recently, a year ago. After throwing OBD-II codes P0335 and P0315 (if my recollection is accurate), It was determined that the Crank Sensor was wasted- worn by the pully. The first crank sensor replacement lasted about eight months. I learned later ( 3 mechanics shops and six months later) that I needed to take it to Chevrolet to have a Master Mechanic install and properly shim another Crank Sensor. During those last six months before the 2010 Chevy Shop visit, I got into the "dog house", myself, and replaced the cam shaft position sensor- not for the faint-of-heart. That was scary but successful. The vehicle has run smoothly since with virtually no issues or codes(about a year since that Chevy Shop visit). I have had two different shops question the condition of the sparks and plugs (just by their outward appearance) on three different occassions since the long block install.

Three days ago, instantaneously, the van started misfiring badly and I limped the last three miles home. Plugged in my code reader and it only revealed P0300...misfire. No kidding! Took it back to Chevrolet- a $90, inconclusive diagnosis, considering the last visit and circumstances, and they, this time, reported a bad catalytic converter. It's still sitting outside their shop. I want to go get it tomorrow. I have another mechanic who was recommended to me lined up to do work, as soon as I decide what I want to have done and talk price. I've spent about four hours looking online for a direct cat replacement system and I think I have one picked out. The reason that I am in this topic area is that I want to go ahead and replace the plugs and wires. I want to get something in the "middle of the road" price range that will last. I'm wondering, if because it is misfiring so much, if I should just get the d cap replaced, too. Could someone who is really sold on particular plugs and wires advise me, here? I have already read not to buy anything other than a Delco cap. Thanks I tried to keep it short.

[Jasen]

Most of us here run ACDelco ignition parts, or at least caps with brass terminals. These vans are kind of picky as to ignition parts. I've read a lot of people using this plug and that, but it seems that the best/safest bet is to stick with the Delcos and I think the autolites have proven to be worthy. But it seems that most that have gone the $42 each 16 electrode plugs made from unattainiam don't seem to work to well most of the time.

[Phantom]

You'll be happier with either the ACDelco or NGK iridium pugs , seems that the factory GM wires last the longest , , but other brands like Accel , MSD also make good wires

[Lumpy]

Seems like when you drill down through all the evidence, advice, stories, guesses etc.,
when it comes to ignition components "Good enough" is as good as it gets. You don't get
a performance boost by "hotter coils" or hotter this or that. The only thing that some
makes/styles of ign components give you is longer life. Example, iridium plugs don't
seem to give any performance boost. But they may last longer. Perhaps a valid factor
in vehicles like ours where changing the plugs can be a challenge.

AC Delco resistor copper plugs.
GM/AC/Delphi resistor wires, cap, rotor, coil, module.

Anything else is just "purty stuff". A bright yellow/blue/red coil might look "race car"
but won't turn your Astrofari into one.


Lump

[RECox286]

I wish I had said that.

Bob

[DEDon]

Thanks for your advice. Purchased AC Delco Plugs, Wires, D Cap and Rotor, today, and feel more comfortable about it.

[exoticautodetai]

How many mm are the spark plug suppose to be? I've seen some running with 8mm and mine has 7mm.

[Jasen]

I think 7mm is OEM, I'm running 8mm Taylor Spiro pros.

[Phantom]

It be one thing for guys who own old vans that use old technology and want to be a curmudgeon and refuse to learn of new things that work better ,,, but to advise a person who has a van nearly 10 years newer to use copper plugs when platinum plugs are what GM calls for is very bad advice , and GM no longer uses copper plugs in anything ; to advise to use less than what came factory is very poor advice ,,,,
YES a hotter coil can produce a hotter spark !!!!!! what happens when a coil begins to wear out ? It produces less voltage which in turn produces a weaker spark , which in turn creates a less powerful explosion in the cylinder which results in less power !!!!

Ever notice why people ask what color spark is being produced???? a blue spark is more powerful than a orange spark , an orange spark is more powerful than a yellow spark ,,,geez this is so simple ,,HEI High Energy Ignition producing 40,000 volts of spark ,,in days before that a coil only made about 10-12,000 volts of spark ,,,
the reason they make HEI is for a hotter spark!!!!!!!!!!!!

A hotter spark creates more power ,,if your coil is beginning to wear out it will produce less voltage and a weaker spark ,,if your coil has weakened to 30,000 volts it has lost 10,000 volts of power ,it can no longer produce the same blue hot spark it did when it was new, it now has a harder time firing the spark plug and can result in a misfire or rough running and reduce MPG ,,

A 2001 van comes from factory designed to be used with Ac delco 41-932 platinum plugs
or iridium plugs will work ,,no sense at all to go backwards and use a copper plug ,,some people think that is just as good only cause they don't want to spend any money on replacing parts with the same qualifications that the van is designed with

copper plugs are not as good as platinum and with as awkward as it is to reach these plugs it makes no sense to buy a plug that is designed to to replaced at about 10,000 miles with performance that falls off at about 5-6000 miles , when the platinum will last at least a good 60,000 miles ,,many people have them for 90-100,000 miles and still running good on a good condition engine .

[DEDon]

Agreeing with Phantom, I did get the Iridiums. I guess that's platinum. Since they last longer, it only makes good sense. Who wants to work around the driver's side bank of plugs? I don't. When I went to my buddy at the parts counter of the Chevy dealer that I used to work at and told him what I wanted, he just brought these plugs out from the back and said that this is the current AC Delco replacement for the original plugs. So there you have it. The copper is "old technology" and these are the current recommendation. Thanks to all.

[Phantom]

Agreeing with Phantom, I did get the Iridium's. I guess that's platinum. Since they last longer, it only makes good sense. Who wants to work around the driver's side bank of plugs? I don't. When I went to my buddy at the parts counter of the Chevy dealer that I used to work at and told him what I wanted, he just brought these plugs out from the back and said that this is the current AC Delco replacement for the original plugs. So there you have it. The copper is "old technology" and these are the current recommendation. Thanks to all.

Your buddy is right on that ,,
Iridium & platinum, it is the metal that the center electrode is made from; Iridium is the next step in the progressive scale ,
platinum was factory original and now Iridium is factory oem original equipment and has been for awhile now ,,,happy motoring