Ceramic Wires for Plugs/Headers?? - Mechanic Question

[Desert Bronco]

I had a head gasket job done a week ago on a used bronco that I bought a few months back because the previous owner didnt put the coolant intake manifold onto the rebuilt engine tightly enough and screwed it up. This cost me $1400 bucks. The next day, I drove the truck about Ten miles, started losing power, and then it would stall out at red lights. I even saw a little bit of white smoke out of the pipe again at one point. I took it back to the mechanic, and he is saying the reason why I dont have any power/juice is because the wires they replaced keep burning out, and he has to get ceramic ones that can be more compatible with the headers that I have on the engine. Does this sound like a legit reason? Just curious on any opinions you guys may have, you always do me proper. Thanks.

1992 Bronco XLT, 5.8 Re-built 351 w/ 33 inch tires, 6 inch lift

 

[Seabronc]

Why don't you post a picture of this engine showing the problem area.

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[madmax]

the only reason i can think of for headers burning out the spark plug wires is due to heat, if thats the case you can probably pickup some high temp fibreglass wire loom to protect it. Or you can get some high temp loom and then encase it in 1/2" flexible metal conduit. That would protect it from almost anything, but I'm not sure if that would cause any strange electromagnetic interference, but i highley doubt it.

 

[rubberdust]

Depending on your headers heat destroying your wires is certainly possible, but cooking them in 10 miles sounds a bit much, unless they were left laying directly against the headers. If they were left laying against the headers I greatly question the quality of the shop that is doing the work. I cook wires on mine periodicly but it is a distint engine miss as much as a loss of power that develops 1st. The heat boots for the wires help a bunch, even with those & the wires not touching the headers I have to replace two of the wires after about 10,000 miles.

loosing power after 10 miles I'm thinking their are other issues & if you are seeing white smoke it's too lean & would have me thinking there is an intake leak when the engine warms up?