Long and short 5.3 plug wires

[bruceb3]

The '02 Tahoe I just bought has 98,000 miles on and I haven't the slightest idea if the plugs & plug wires have ever been changed so I figured I would upgrade the plugs and wires. I went to the Summit web page and entered my year, make and model. I ordered the AC Delco 41-985 Iridium plugs and the 8 mm Summit wires that were listed for my vehicle. The online catalog had no mention that I saw about the length. After they were shipped, I got an order confirmation that said "LS Wire Set (long) 8mm". Then in the specs it said 12 1/2". I said "Oh Crap!" and ran outside and pulled one of my wires, and of course they were 9 1/2". When I called them they said that the only GM wires listed that are 9 1/2" are for the Camaro and Firebird, and the only wires listed for the 2000-2004 Tahoe are 12 1/2". They were good about it, and sent out the right wires (at least I hope so) and said to ship the 12 1/2" wires back.
I also ordered the Taylor braided heat shields to replace the ugly metal oem shieldson the plug wire boots. One end of the braided shields is 1" in diameter but the hole in the other end is only big enough to get a bare wire through, so those got sent back too. They must only be to slip on the wire when you put the ends on yourself. Oh well, it sure sounded good to begin with.
To make a long story short, make sure you measure your wires before ordering. I've never heard this subject mentioned in the forums either, but then I've been known to miss stuff before.

[Jimmiee]

The '02 Tahoe I just bought has 98,000 miles on and I haven't the slightest idea if the plugs & plug wires have ever been changed so I figured I would upgrade the plugs and wires. I went to the Summit web page and entered my year, make and model. I ordered the AC Delco 41-985 Iridium plugs and the 8 mm Summit wires that were listed for my vehicle. The online catalog had no mention that I saw about the length. After they were shipped, I got an order confirmation that said "LS Wire Set (long) 8mm". Then in the specs it said 12 1/2". I said "Oh Crap!" and ran outside and pulled one of my wires, and of course they were 9 1/2". When I called them they said that the only GM wires listed that are 9 1/2" are for the Camaro and Firebird, and the only wires listed for the 2000-2004 Tahoe are 12 1/2". They were good about it, and sent out the right wires (at least I hope so) and said to ship the 12 1/2" wires back.
I also ordered the Taylor braided heat shields to replace the ugly metal oem shieldson the plug wire boots. One end of the braided shields is 1" in diameter but the hole in the other end is only big enough to get a bare wire through, so those got sent back too. They must only be to slip on the wire when you put the ends on yourself. Oh well, it sure sounded good to begin with.
To make a long story short, make sure you measure your wires before ordering. I've never heard this subject mentioned in the forums either, but then I've been known to miss stuff before.

Good tip for others and kudos to Summit Racing! Glad they took care of you.

[Z71_guy]

there is actually two options for coils but i think it has more to do with what the coil boot end looks like
Product Line: Belden
Comments: Delphi Ignition - Use w/ Coils Stamped 19005218

Product Line: Belden
Comments: Mitsubishi Ignition - Use w/ Coils Stamped 12558693

[bruceb3]

The 9 1/2" wires were a perfect match and the AC Delco 41-985's were pre-gapped at .040. My mechanic argued with me that the gap should be .060 which was what my Chilton's said also. It was only information from this forum that I was comfortable telling him "Just do it". Then he told me that my mileage might suffer which turned out to be a crock. When pulled, the old AC's were original and the gap was now about .063. The wires looked like they may have been changed (they said Packard on them).
The next day I left on a trip. The 332 miles to upper Michigan with the air on (all highway) used 19.1 gal. yielding 17.4 mpg. Then the next 267 miles driving around up there which is more like highway than city used 16 gal. yielding 16.7 mpg and the 277 miles back without the air (also all highway) used 14.6 gal. yielding 18.97 mpg! I was following my friend back. I wasn't right on his rear, so I don't think drafting had a lot to do with it. I'm ecstatic with this mileage for an '02 Tahoe 5.3. I turned 100,000 miles on the trip. I also didn't see the Mobil 1 level go down noticeably. I was so used to my old Jeep using a quart every 400 miles that I was startled.

[tahoerd]

The 9 1/2" wires were a perfect match and the AC Delco 41-985's were pre-gapped at .040. My mechanic argued with me that the gap should be .060 which was what my Chilton's said also. It was only information from this forum that I was comfortable telling him "Just do it". Then he told me that my mileage might suffer which turned out to be a crock. When pulled, the old AC's were original and the gap was now about .063. The wires looked like they may have been changed (they said Packard on them).
The next day I left on a trip. The 332 miles to upper Michigan with the air on (all highway) used 19.1 gal. yielding 17.4 mpg. Then the next 267 miles driving around up there which is more like highway than city used 16 gal. yielding 16.7 mpg and the 277 miles back without the air (also all highway) used 14.6 gal. yielding 18.97 mpg! I was following my friend back. I wasn't right on his rear, so I don't think drafting had a lot to do with it. I'm ecstatic with this mileage for an '02 Tahoe 5.3. I turned 100,000 miles on the trip. I also didn't see the Mobil 1 level go down noticeably. I was so used to my old Jeep using a quart every 400 miles that I was startled.

Iridium AC's come pre-gapped at .040, not ,060. AC Delco has a Dealer bulletin stating the change in the plug spec, which I can send you if you want. Why they changed from the original platinums, I can't say, as I ran my originals to 100K miles, and they worked well til I pulled them and put the new
AC Iridiums in, as you did.