Gentlemen: I'd like to try making my own ignition cables for my 1974 slant six. Have you ever made up your own ignition cables? Looks like NAPA will sell you the raw cable, the clips at both ends, and the boots. Do you need a special tool to strip the cable and attach the clips at the distributor and spark plug ends? Did you use 7mm or 8 mm cable? Any online videos about doing this? Did you like the result? I can't seem to buy the correct cables for my car anywhere. They sell the correct length, but the rubber spark plug boots are all wrong. Any help is appreciated. Thanks - BOB
Has been done since spark plugs wires have been in existence. A proper crimping tool will make short work of it but you can do it without. No special cutting tools needed
Thanks. How do the boots go on? How do you install the 90 degree boots that come off the distributor cap? Do you any particular brand of wire?
Of course. Used to be, ready made plug wires were very expensive. Parts stores sold plug wire in bulk off rolls and you just bought however many feet you wanted, picked out your boots, got the ends and crimped them on.
very easy job to do... do yourself a favor and buy the proper ratcheting crimp tool.. makes the job a million times easier and faster.
All you need is a can of silicone spray lube, I use needle nose to stretch the boot sometimes before inserting the wire. And a pair of crimpers with the large "W" crimp made especially for plug wire ends. A tool that looks like this is about as cheap as you'll get. The big position on the very tip is what you use Performance Tool W86500 Performance Tool Spark Plug Wire Crimping Tools | Summit Racing
Put boot on wire (watch orientation)Strip appropriate amount of insulator from end (try to not cut the conductor)Fold conductor backwards over the insulatorCrimp on terminal with conductor opposite the crimp.Slide boot over terminal ( if you need to lube the boot be sure the lube is NOT electricly conductive.Rinse and repeat the other end
MSD sells some really nice wire sets that have one end on and you cut to length and install the other end. Its really low resistance wire. I bought the msd crimpers and they work like a champ. I always hated pre-made wires because they never fit like they should. This way you can route them however you want and they fit like a glove. I will post some pics and part numbers if I can find them.
Makes a difference if you are electronic or points too, for wire type. Several kits have a crimper with the wire kit, just use it in your vice for crimping, no need to buy special wire crimper.
Yep been making my own since the 70's. I like a custom fit. I had a bunch of new MSD stuff so made these for my Dart and also for my Satellite. Both are 8mm.
MSD Ignition 31199 MSD 8.5mm Super Conductor Spark Plug Wire Sets | Summit Racing MSD Ignition 35051 MSD Pro-Crimp Tool II | Summit Racing
For your stock or close to stock ignition system 7mm will be fine. The larger are for race type ignition systems, more insulating ability maybe even bigger conductor. Be sure you buy resister core wire or don't plan on listening to a radio within 20 feet.
8mm is 1mm bigger than 7mm. In short, the bigger diameter cable offers more protection from spark "leakage". Also IF the center conductor is bigger, it also offers a path for more current to the plug.
Yes they will . You may need a crimping tool . I have one sold by Moroso . It cuts the cable and has different jaws for crimping the ends . I didn't know building ignition could be so easy . Almost fun .
When I first got started in the 50's that's what you had to do if you wanted anything custom. I hauled a roll of "Packard" wire around for years until I finally threw it away. I believe I still have a set of Rajah clips for the plug ends.
Mallory or Taylor used to sell a 7mm ignition wire kit for a V8 at Supershops for $7.99. circa 1985. Blue cable, brass colored ends, black boots and even 'shorting pins' that looked like brass nails that you could put in the distributor end and short individually to see what cylinder balance you had. The mm is just the OD of the cable, IIRC the inside carbon core was all the same unless it was very low resistance stuff. Pre cut stuff was ALWAYS too long.
Total waste of time making plug wires for a slanter. None of the make yourself kits will have the correct ends that have the spark plug tube seal. AFAIK the only set that has the tube seals on the wires is denso 6716132 about $20.
