How often do you replace your spark plug wires, plugs, distributor cap and rotor

[Brandon Sinclair]

I have a set of Magnecor plug wires I purchased from Berg years ago and I probably have at least 50k miles on them if not more.  If I check them with an OHM meter they read ok.

My NGK plugs probably have 15k on them and are due for a replacement or re-gap.  The Bosch cap and rotor have the same mileage on them.  I was wondering if they should be replaced or I should just clean the contacts.

In the past I would have just replaced everything but now I am thinking (or over thinking) that I do not want to get rid of good parts if it is not necessary and not causing any problems.

How often do you replace your ignition components and do you use a mileage limit or just do it as part of a yearly tune up or something like that?

Thanks

[Rennsurfer]

When I built my first Cal Looker, I'd change the spark plug wires once every two years. The cap and rotor got changed a two or three times a year, along with the spark plugs.

Now that it's thirty years later and I have a much better understanding about this stuff... only when the parts fail. Plug wires and plugs will most likely be changed more often than the cap and rotor. Those two items should last a very long time. I have a Bosch distributor in my '87 Volvo 245 5spd. wagon have been using the same cap and rotor since the early nineties. Once in awhile, I'll clean the contacts. Other than that... they work just fine. Changed plug wires on that car twice since then and the plugs get changed once a year.

All of my cars get the same treatment, even the Bug. To each their own, but that's the way I've been taking care of it.

[team97]

I am embarrassed to let anybody know...........haven't changed any of those since putting the motor together..........7 years and 5 bottles of nitrous ago. I have changed the oil and adjusted the valves a couple of times.