get the crimpers I bought some in the UK for less than 10GBP
Crimping sparkplug wires.....?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Nanty Glo PA
Crimping sparkplug wires.....?
What do you all use to crimp universal fit spark plug wires? I know you can buy a special tool for it. Does anybody use anything else successfully?? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks for looking!
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,560
Likes: 439
From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 396
Likes: 3
From: Buffalo New York
I used a $30 crimping tool from autozone on my taylor spiro core wires. It works great, makes the installation very easy. Also, with the universal wire kit, you can thread the wires thru the lower wire guides before you terminate the ends. Well worth the $30.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Mine came with a set of plastic blocks to use in a vice, works well. You can get the blocks by themselfs at Summit. Plug terminals are like all electrical crimp terminals, they are designed to be crimped by a specific dye. You can crimp them with needle nose pliars but not very consistantly. Get the crimp blocks, they are cheaper than the $30 you talked about
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: wakefield uk
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
i just changed the distributor side terminals when i went to a hei ($100 on ebay, and so far it works great) and i used a regular set of pliers and gently squeezed each side of the terminal to round it, then slipped it over the wire and snugged it up. by the way, i twisted a thin piece of soft steel wire about 1/4" from the end of the plug wire, passed it thru the boot, then pulled the wire thru the boot, crimped it, and then slowly pulled the pulg wire to back the terminal into the boot. it worked out well. changed 8 wires in about 30 minutes.
jeff
jeff
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 2
From: North NJ
This is what I used from MSD, ordered via SummitRacing.
$5
These little plastic blocks weren't terrible but next time I'll spring for the tool that Gary speaks of.
There are instructions on the bottom of the summit webpage if you would fancy a read....
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
$5
These little plastic blocks weren't terrible but next time I'll spring for the tool that Gary speaks of.
There are instructions on the bottom of the summit webpage if you would fancy a read....
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I have an old wire crimper with a position for 7-8mm spark plug wires...no real need to buy something else.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,246
Likes: 4
From: Bay Area CA
After you make them, I would suggets testing them with an ohm meter before you put them on the car. I made a set, useing the crimp blocks and vice grips/small vice. and found 2 bad ones that way. The MSD spiral wire core wire runs about 1000 ohms per foot, when good. I also found that smearing the wires with electrical grease is a good way to get the boots to slide around on the wires.
Last edited by RunningMan373; Jan 31, 2008 at 07:20 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,367
Likes: 1,730
From: Seattle Area Washington
When I replace any wires on my domestic cars I use Taylor brand 7mm or 8mm wires. I have had good luck building my own sets vs. buying universal fit wires as there are at least 2 that are too long and too short. Found this Moroso tool years ago at a speed shop and have never had a crimp fail over the years. Also strips to the perfect depth when using 7mm or 8mm wires. Not sure if it is still available but it’s a good investment, around $20 years ago.
