Re Magnecor Leads

[s3swiss]

Can someone give me some guidance on these leads?
Bought set from Burton Power for Ford V6 2.9 to fit my S3. They wouldn't fit as the dizzy cap on my car has male (sticking-out metal bits) posts and the lead ends are for female (recessed metal contacts) dizzy cap. Got Burton to send me (direct from Magnecor) 'correct' set for S3 (Set 6037)which also has ends for female dizzy cap! Am I in the minority with my male-post (grey) dizzy cap? Or does everyone else using Magnecor leads buy another (female) dizzy cap?

[spivvy]

the old old leads had extenders to get over the dissy surround that is on some models standard magnecors don't come with extenders ,so your best option is to remove the surround from the dissy and plug them straight in

[s3swiss]

My problem is not with the surround to the dizzy cap (been removed on mine), but with the terminals on the cap itself. My S has a grey male post type cap, i'm guessing everyone with magnecor leads is still using the female dizzy cap (where the metal bit on the lead fits into the recess on the cap)?

[tvrgit]

spivvy said:

the old old leads had extenders to get over the dissy surround that is on some models standard magnecors don't come with extenders ,so your best option is to remove the surround from the dissy and plug them straight in

SOrry, that's not correct, I don't think.

Ford fitted two different distributor caps to the 2.9 - one with female connectors for the ignition leads, one with male posts. Taking off the extenders still leaves you with male posts, which the leads meant for female connectors don't fit (well they do, but not properly, and not weatherproofed or insulated).

One is for a Bosch distributor, one is for Lucas, I don't know which is which, and I don't know if they are interchangeable (ie if you can buy the "male" cap and fit it straight on instead of a female one.

I got so fed up trying to get suppliers to provide the correct male cap with ignition leads with the correct ends, that I gave up and went to the local Ford dealer. They got it wrong as well, they can't tell the difference either.

I did eventually get the correct cap and leads from a motor factors...

[tvrgit]

Oh and I gave up trying to get Magnecor leads - I couldn't find a dealer who could guarantee that they would have the correct ends on.

[Wildfire]

Looks like you have 2 choices, new Dizzy cap or new leads. Maybe have a Chat with ACT as they deal inMagnecore leads??

[tvrgit]

Wildfire said:

Looks like you have 2 choices, new Dizzy cap or new leads. Maybe have a Chat with ACT as they deal inMagnecore leads??

If you go for a new dist cap, make sure it fits the distributor properly - one is lucas pattern, one is bosch pattern. I couldn't find anybody to guarantee 100% that they were interchangeable on the same distributor.

[Mark Adams]

TVRGit is right - there are two distributors. The caps are not interchangeable.

If you want Magnecores, then talk to ACT. Magnecore themselves are very helpful, and would provide you with a set with the correct ends on.

Exceptions and oddities are not easily accomodated by large mail-order operations, but you will get personal service from Tim Lamont.

Personally I have ordered several custom sets from Magnecore, and they have always been spot-on. They didn't even cost much more!

[s3swiss]

thanks to all - I'll ring Magnecor on Monday as they sent the last set direct to me on behalf of BurtonPower. Hopefully can get a set with the right ends as don't really want to buy another cap on top of the cost of the leads!