Plugs and wires

[norcalatver]

I have been reading about people changing their plugs, wires, cap, and rotor on their engines. I have a 1997 22V. I am the original owner. My engine has 500 hrs. on it and still runs great! I have never changed anything but the plugs once. When replacing the cap, rotor, and wires, do I have to buy them from a boat dealer? Or can I buy quality stuff from my local automotive supply? Thanks.

[scoot18]

No you don't have to get from a boat dealer.

You can get good quality wires from other places. The routing of the wires should be about the same as an automotive application, so as long as the new wires are the same length as the ones you are replacing, you will be good to go. It may also be a good idea to apply a small amount of dialectric silcone into the boot ends if not already applied out of the package.

[samw]

Trying not to HIGH JACK,

I noticed that my plug wires are red. When I look the part # up. I can find both red and grey. Does anyone know what the difference is??
Does the red have something to do with the marine environment or thickness of the wire?

Thanks

[spharis]

Color is arbitrary and usually associated to brand or line.

[samw]

Cool, that is what I needed. I didn't think it mattered since I could not find in any info on the difference.

[norcalatver]

No you don't have to get from a boat dealer.

You can get good quality wires from other places. The routing of the wires should be about the same as an automotive application, so as long as the new wires are the same length as the ones you are replacing, you will be good to go. It may also be a good idea to apply a small amount of dialectric silcone into the boot ends if not already applied out of the package.

Thanks for the info! I don't want to pay too much if I don't have to.

[dogbert]

I asked my dealer about this and they said that you really only have to change your plugs every 400 hrs. He also told me that when you do that, it's a good idea to change the wires. Unlike a car, you're running your engine at higher RPMs, so the wires wear out faster.

[spharis]

Watch ebay for this kind of thing. I got a set of PCM small block high per wires for $3 from a dealer selling all his stock.

[norcalatver]

Excuse me for being ignorant, but when I go to the parts store, what type wires, cap and rotor do I ask for? What I know about my engine is it is a mercruiser Black Scorpion V-8. It is fuel injected and hsa 315 h.p. It is in a 1997 Tige 22V. Thanks for your help!

[spharis]

Wires from any GM 5.7 from that era will be close enough to fit. I usually find parts to a 98 z28. Cap and rotor depend on what type of distributor you have. There are special types from that era specific to Vortec engines. Got a pic?

[TeamAllen]

I think your Distributor Cap has to be Marine. There is special vent (or non-vent) to prevent spark.

[spharis]

Yes. By default though, most are non vented.

[norcalatver]

Thank You guys for the info. I looked up the engine on the mercruiser web site by the vin# but the prices there were very expensive compared to the auto parts store. Thanks again!

[spharis]

Just make sure it is not vented. Many of the older delco style are not.

I would order one from skidim.com