Camaro350Z28

iTrader: (6)

Im getting an arcing problem from all wires. I noticed the porcelin on the spark plugs glowing. Then following that got under the car to notice a laser light show. Arcing everywhere to the entire wire flashing bright white. Now ive noticed coil wire and even the coil itself is arcing out. coil is arcing to waterpump and to even the opti vacuum line.

new wires, new plugs, tried 2 coils. im losing my mind. just installed afr heads and a cam. started afterwards. grounds seem fine. i dont even know what to do now im out of ideas. anyone else ever solve this?

Thanks guys

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

Is the car running poorly? With that much arcing the car should be running terribly.

Honestly though it sounds like you're (mostly) describing the corona discharge and is normal. It is normal to see a blue flash around the insulator.

Camaro350Z28

iTrader: (6)

its running poorly. every possible spot is arcing. its hard for me to tell if its every cylinder or not cause i have to look in the dark for arcing. but the coil itself and the coil wire arc out as well. the 6 and 8 plug wire ive seen light up with a white strand through the whole wire. its blowing my mind. i had some tr55s in there gapped at .050. just bought autolite 105s and gapping at .040 for my setup. i wouldnt think that would change anything but im all prays right now

i should have regapped the tr55s i had. i had bought new and gapped before i blew a headgasket.

RamAir95TA

iTrader: (2)

What wires do you have?

Camaro350Z28

iTrader: (6)

i had msd 8.5s on there. and this was happening. i just went and bought some 8mm taylors and the exact same issue going on. leading me to something wrong. grounds looked ok. this is my first experience with a problem like that

cardo0

Glowing porcelin? Flashing bright white wires and arching everywhere including coil? This is too much to believe. Do u have a hi perf ignition box? Any DTC codes? But with that much arching i would expect a fire to start somewhere or to blow a fuse.

If this is after your top end change then u changed some ignition wiring somewhere. U have to get the manual out and re-verify each connection. I suspect your wirng is not stock and has been changed for some reason.


cardo

Camaro350Z28

iTrader: (6)

my wiring is completely stock. no codes. no ignition box.

like no joke i dont know how its happening. never witnessed anything like this. i know for sure 1 6 and 8 have the flashing wire going on. I just swapped spark plugs i will find out tonight. i too am baffled.

i dont know how any wiring could possibly be different. they all plug in but i am open to anything to solve this

GIZMO

iTrader: (8)

Is the engine properly grounded?

Tall Guy

iTrader: (1)

^^ this. Is the ground strap from the block to the chassis frame secured and has clean contacts?

AdsoYo

iTrader: (1)

Do you have a video? This sounds like it would be a unique viewing experience.

Camaro350Z28

iTrader: (6)

my grounds are fine unfortunately. I replaced spark plugs last night even though they were new. no effect. doing the exact same thing.

car runs like ****. cannot figure this out. irritating

383z

iTrader: (2)

I 2nd this. I would love to see this, but sorry for your problem. This just sounds crazy. Good luck

dougxqmy

It is normal to see a blue flash around the insulator.

ugod02010

I agree I think this particular problem might be easier actually seeing what you are talking about. There is something very wrong I am thinking grounding somewhere is no good the copper wire running from the head to the chassis could be a cause or one of the others actually take the wires off and scratch the paint down to bear metal. And if you have some at least 8gauge wire I used 4ga. Reground the motor to chassis and check the battery ground and I believe there is a third main ground around I. The area somewhere. Post up a video of the arcing. It will help

Camaro350Z28

iTrader: (6)

ill try to get a video of it. its not normal. it is what im saying. it arcs from coil to itself. coil wire to the opti vacuum hose. coil wire to water pump. every plug glows but your saying thats normal. anywhere a plug wire is close enough to arc it a piece of metal it is. 6 and 8 still are doing its 1' light flash/flicker solid line. does it randomly. it runs like crap and sounds like crap but ill go ahead and assume its all cause this one reason

did not have this problem before heads cam intake and tune.

1. msd 8.5 and taylor 8mm both do same thing
2. correct plugs installed brand new gapped .040 same result
3. coil/icm has been swapped between a couple i have and end result still the same
4. grounds checked. starter and strap from driver head to rail all in tact, clean and tight

5. opti not new but a delco unit i havent had issues with
6. tune? no way that can do this right?
7. anyone wanna buy a 95 lt1? lol

bufmatmuslepants

iTrader: (3)

Kind of a simple test is get a meter and check from the head to the chassis. Or just getto rig a 10 gage wire from somewhere and make a new ground.

wrd1972

iTrader: (12)

What are you plugs gapped at? The bigger the gap, the harder it is for the spark to jump the gap and therefore energy will see an easier path. I gap mine at .035" FTR. No need to run the ~.055" gap unless you are an emissions **** tree hugger.

I once had an arcing problem too and it was those shitty wires from elitesparkplugwires.com and I am glad that douche nozzle went out of business.

I then went with MSD 8.5 Super conductors and never had another problem. And yes check that engine and chassis ground.

Camaro350Z28

iTrader: (6)

ill throw a meter on it. plugs are .040 and ive used 2 sets of wires that do the same thing

wrd1972

iTrader: (12)

One more thing. IIRC, the MSD wires are rather low resistance. Maybe 100-200 OHMs. Anything that is very high resistance means the terminal has broken free from the conductor and this could cause arcing.

The terminals that MSD provided me came with directions to fold the conductor over and back on the insulator and then crimp which is stupid as Hell. I found that the conductor would break at the bend.

I then found terminals online that allow the conductor to be crimped separate from the insulator crimp WITHOUT having to bend it over and my wires were much better.

Camaro350Z28

iTrader: (6)

possible fix. out there checking everything i can i was removing grounds to clean etc. I go to the stud over by the power distribution block and started to loosen it. Sparks flews and the stud broke. Hoping thats my issue. just gonna put a bolt n nut setup, sand up the contact points and pray to god i found the issue. Ill report back