Plug wires

[Nelson]

What was unique about R3 spark plug wires?

Edited December 28, 2022 by Nelson

[pantera928]

copper core

[Nelson]

Nope

[brad]

Silicone jacketing. Regular Studes had neoprene wires. Also, they seemed to leave off the shielding covers on Avanti equipped R3s

 

[Nelson]

You got half of it Brad.

[mfg]

Wires were thicker gauge than normal?

[Nelson]

No, not thicker wire.

[mfg]

3 minutes ago, Nelson said:

No, not thicker wire.

Thicker wire insulation?

[Nelson]

Not thicker insulation.

[mfg]

Color?.......Lack of shielding on some R3 installations?

Edited December 28, 2022 by mfg
Added text

[Dwight FitzSimons]

They were a light orange color, similar to the University of Tennessee school color.

--Dwight

[Nelson]

Without looking at old Paxton sales literature probably no one will get the question totally right. Yes they were 7mm diameter orange/flesh color silicone casing with BRAIDED STAINLESS STEEL CORE.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

6 hours ago, Nelson said:

Without looking at old Paxton sales literature probably no one will get the question totally right. Yes they were 7mm diameter orange/flesh color silicone casing with BRAIDED STAINLESS STEEL CORE.

I assume that the stainless steel conductor was used for SS's higher resistivity (vs. copper).  That would reduce current like resistor wires do, although less.  I also remember that they were rather "leaky", meaning a lightning show when running the engine on a dark night.  You're right on the color, a very light orange/flesh.  This was on the R3 engine I bought new in the crate about 1967 (B86).

--Dwight