Performance Distributor’s LiveWire spark plug wires are the perfect companion to the DUI distributors. Built to prevent a bottleneck in the ignition system, the LiveWires are excellent conductors of moveable energy from the distributor to the spark plug.

Recently our friends at Performance Distributors asked us to check out a set of spark plug wires. In the past we have avoided doing too much with spark plug wires because they aren’t sexy parts like distributors, and they don’t have moving parts. Spark plug wires do one thing: they conduct electricity. Period. That is all they do. So we’ve really never taken a close look at spark plug wires until we got our hands on Performance Distributor’s LiveWires spark plug wires.

Despite being the often overlooked team member of the ignition system, spark plug wires play a critical role in the quality of spark that is created in the combustion chamber. “Delivering a high voltage spark to the plug requires a quality spark plug wire,” said Steve Davis, President of Performance Distributors. “Today’s demands on plug wires due to higher voltage currents, higher temperatures and technically advanced ignition systems like the DUI distributor, have created an atmosphere where using the right spark plug wire can optimize engine performance.”

Optimizing engine performance is the key phrase in spark plug wire selection. If you are looking to add horsepower by buying a new set of plug wires, you’ve probably fell for a slick sales line. However, a good set of spark plug wires can prevent you from losing horsepower because they don’t breakdown and degrade as quickly. “Our LiveWires are unsurpassed in quality by offering low resistance and high temperature protection,” Davis added.

Protective sleeves seal the plug’s boot ends to prevent any moisture or condensation from entering at the boot joint.

Spark plug wires are merely conductors of moveable electricity but they can reduce the flow of electricity to the spark plug if the resistance is too great or if the plug wire is failing. The LiveWires we tried out for GM DUI distributors were an 8-mm wire, covered by a heat treated fiberglass sleeve that Davis told us would protect the wire up to 1400 degrees Fahrenheit.

With a Performance Distributor’s DUI distributor that is capable of pumping out some seriously high-voltage current, and a set of spark plugs that will use all the current sent to them, the spark plug wires are the bottle neck in the system. You must have a plug wire that can handle and transfer all the moveable energy from the distributor to the spark plug. The liveWires plug wire set is designed specifically for that.

Our set of LiveWires rejuvenated a worn engine, bringing a new spark to this inline six.

These wires were constructed with a spiral wound core, which is known to have  radio suppression qualities, so there is no radio noise or computer interference for cars that have engine control units. We loved the fact that these LiveWires were not a universal type set, and did not require assembly. “All sets are custom fit and numbered at each end for the correct cylinder,” explained Davis. As an added bonus, they are available in black, blue, purple, red, silver and yellow.

For more information on these or other Performance Distributor products, visit them online at: performancedistributors.com