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Making your own spark plug cables

8K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  malc 
#1 ·
I'm tired of buying "supposedly" custom-fit spark plug cables that then turn out to be too long.

Has anybody ever made their own spark plug cables? What tools and supplies would I need? Any suggestions?

Rob
 
#4 · (Edited)
intergalactica said:
I'm tired of buying "supposedly" custom-fit spark plug cables that then turn out to be too long.

Has anybody ever made their own spark plug cables? What tools and supplies would I need? Any suggestions?

Rob
The universal spark plug wire sets only need the wires cut to the desired length and the distributor cap terminal ends and boots attached. The spark plug ends are already attached.

A good hand held wire crimper/cutter/stripper tool is very helpful.

The crimping tool that malc has posted works very well but you still will need a stripping tool to remove the outer insulation and not cut the inner core.

A very liberal use of a lubricant (usually silicone grease although regular oil works as well) is needed to "slide" the boot back over the crimped terminal.
 
#5 ·
Frisco said:
The universal spark plug wire sets only need the wires cut to the desired length and the spark plug boot and terminal attached. The distributor cap ends are already attached.

A good hand held wire crimper/cutter/stripper tool is very helpful.

The crimping tool that malc has posted works very well but you still will need a stripping tool to remove the outer insulation and not cut the inner core.

A very liberal use of a lubricant (usually silicone grease although regular oil works as well) is needed to "slide" the boot back over the crimped terminal.
Try Armorall,works slick!
 
#6 ·
Frisco said:
The universal spark plug wire sets only need the wires cut to the desired length and the spark plug boot and terminal attached. The distributor cap ends are already attached.
A good hand held wire crimper/cutter/stripper tool is very helpful.

The crimping tool that malc has posted works very well but you still will need a stripping tool to remove the outer insulation and not cut the inner core.

A very liberal use of a lubricant (usually silicone grease although regular oil works as well) is needed to "slide" the boot back over the crimped terminal.
It is the distributor ends you have to attach, the plug boots are already there.
The tool I have shown allows you to strip the right amount of outer insulation and cut it to the right depth.
It´s done with the two holes you can see.
You just need to supply a sharp blade, insert the wire in the right hole until it stops, insert the blade in the slot and rotate the cable, presto job done.
 
#7 ·
These are Taylor Spiro-Pro universals - and with a full MSD ignition are operating just fine. It takes a couple of hours to make up the wires, but for sure a lot better looking then the "custom fit".

My tools - a box cutter knife, a crimping tool and some silicone dielectric grease to get the boots on at the distributor end.

(I do like the tool that Malc pictured !!)

 
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