Ignition coil lead

[MML]

I'm having the ignition leads, rotor, distributor cap and plugs all replaced at the minute. On the old coil lead there's a smaller wire that was connected to the intake manifold. Anyone know what it's for? It's not on the replacement lead.
I have no idea if the leads were ever replaced in the past, so I'm not sure if it's factory original or not...

http://i.imgur.com/fgW0a1v.jpg

[Josh]

There is metal shielding around the cable to reduce electromagnetic interference. In order for this shielding to be functional, it requires a ground. That is there the lug goes. I dont see this as being much of a benefit, especially as the wire is only partially covered.

[MML]

Aha!! Thanks Josh.
I have no idea when it was fitted. This car is full of DPO surprises!
Just last month some PO bodged wiring on the ignition coil caused a breakdown on the way to the MOT testing centre... heck of a time for it to happen.

[DMCMW Dave]

Aha!! Thanks Josh.
I have no idea when it was fitted. This car is full of DPO surprises!
.

That's not DPO, that's OEM. Radio static suppression.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

I'm having the ignition leads, rotor, distributor cap and plugs all replaced at the minute. On the old coil lead there's a smaller wire that was connected to the intake manifold. Anyone know what it's for? It's not on the replacement lead.
I have no idea if the leads were ever replaced in the past, so I'm not sure if it's factory original or not...

http://i.imgur.com/fgW0a1v.jpg
It's someone's impersonation of the later car's (Those fitted with factory power antennas...generally 82's and 3's unless dealer retrofitted.) shielded coil lead. This one however is not NOS. Delorean One was known for impersonating this lead but they normally looked a little different. My best guess is that this is one of Ed B.'s creations.
BTW this is an excellent way to disable your car once the lead starts to arc as it immediately grounds out your ignition. Not the best wire choice in a damp environment.
Rob

[DMCMW Dave]

It's someone's impersonation of the later car's (Those fitted with factory power antennas...generally 82's and 3's unless dealer retrofitted.) shielded coil lead. This one however is not NOS. Delorean One was known for impersonating this lead but they normally looked a little different.

I'd seen those, and the more common ("factory") ones are much "fatter". I just figured they had multiple vendors over time.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

Here is a pic of a brand new Nos coil wire as provided in the power antenna equipped cars and in the NOS power antenna kit. Even though this thread didn't go far since I bothered to take the pic I may as well post it for posterity's sake.
Rob39095

[Bitsyncmaster]

I thought the NOLIGY ignition upgrade was the source of that shielded wire.

[PJ Grady Inc.]

I thought the NOLIGY ignition upgrade was the source of that shielded wire.

Absolutely not. We were/are an original factory authorized dealer and signed on in 1978 way before cars were available. I remember most VIN changes as I saw them come in on the new deliveries. I have a half dozen of these laying around from various other dealer inventories. We've sold and installed many of the NOS antenna kits when/since they were first available. In every case the wire looks exactly like the one in the picture. BTW we are the only original factory authorized dealer left on the planet. Hopefully this qualifies me to have the last word on a mundane coil wire but apparently not! Others such as D 1 and perhaps DMCH have made their own versions but only the style in my picture is a factory wire. As Joe Namath once said about the Jets chances of winning the Superbowl. "I guarantee it!"
Rob