mmcdowel Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 Bought a set of what are supposed to be OEM style spark plug wires, but upon receipt was disappointed to see the "cap end" of the wires have to be cut to length, pinch on the connector, etc. (I guess I was hoping for "plug and play" style). Anyone have any experience with these working out just fine or should I return them and look for a set that is ready to go right out of the box? These may be all thats available....I don't know? Thanks! Quote
50 coupe Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 Cut to fit is nice if you want some extra length to route the wires how you want. I know my stockers are tight so when I have to remove the distrib. cap I have some wires come loose. If you cut to fit, use a proper crimper made for plug wires otherwise the contacts work loose. If you don't want to mess with it, you can find factory length kits. Try some of the vendors listed on this site. 1 Quote
desoto1939 Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 These cut to fit are fine. When our cars were on the road MoPAr did have factory sets but now the venders and resalers dealers sell the you cut to fit. Replace one wire at a time. So start with the number 1 wire from the cap to the 1 st plug. pull a wire trhough your wire loom metal wire holder and then route it from the cap to the plug. As stated above give some extra length want a natural loop in the wire. Also are you using the straight down on the plug or the angles style connector on the plug. Cut to you appropriate length. Slide the rubber caps on each end. Crimp on the metal connector and make sure they are pinching into the inner core of the spark plug wire. Push the end into the dizzy cap and then connect the plug end. Then do the remaining in the same manner. Also do the coil wire in the same fashion. Might take about and hour to do the entire job. After having all connected then start the car to make sure it will start. Rich Hartung Desoto1939@aol.com Quote
mmcdowel Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Posted March 17, 2016 They are the angled type connectors. Thanks everyone! I feel better now. Will let you know how it works out. Quote
Frank Elder Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 I wonder if precut /6 wires would do. Quote
desoto1939 Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 I wonder if precut /6 wires would do. precut wires will work if they have been cut to the correct lengths and it would help if the person that supplied the wires had indicated which wire went to which sparkplug. So yes precut will work also. rich hartung Quote
Don Coatney Posted March 17, 2016 Report Posted March 17, 2016 Pre-cut wires will not fit through the loom. Most be assembled in place. How can the best answer be given to the person who asked the question???? Quote
Solution mmcdowel Posted March 17, 2016 Author Solution Report Posted March 17, 2016 I hit "problem resolved" (or so I thought) and was taken aback when I saw it displayed "Best Answer". Much appreciated! This answers my question. MMc Quote
Frank Elder Posted March 18, 2016 Report Posted March 18, 2016 Pre-cut wires will not fit through the loom. Most be assembled in place. How can the best answer be given to the person who asked the question???? First thing I did was get rid of that all metal cross arcing contraption and replaced it with plastic wire seperaters Quote
Don Coatney Posted March 18, 2016 Report Posted March 18, 2016 First thing I did was get rid of that all metal cross arcing contraption and replaced it with plastic wire seperaters That steel fish tail loom was a piece of art. How could you replace it with molded plastic? Might as well drive a LEGO car. 2 Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted March 18, 2016 Report Posted March 18, 2016 yes many liked the clam shell over the oval looped model....the fanned looked of the wires was easy on the eyes Quote
mmcdowel Posted March 18, 2016 Author Report Posted March 18, 2016 I did find several spots where the wires had worn and were arcing (or about to) within that loom, but on the other hand it took 66 years for them to get into that condition. My new wires look exactly like the old ones so far as the material so I think I'll bite the bullet and leave it original. I love that old car. She isn't one to get in a hurry, but such a smooth ride...especially with the Fluid Drive. The rear brake drums were hell though (as I've seen mentioned on this site several times). I know this seems odd to say, but whatever materials they used on the interior smell great too. 1 Quote
mopar_earl Posted March 18, 2016 Report Posted March 18, 2016 Later cars like my 52 are just tubes, far from pretty lol Thinking about eliminating mine. I was always taught to keep plug wires away from metal and each other. They can and will arc to each other as well as ground. Especially if you install a higher voltage coil. Wires go bad and ppl don't seem to want to replace them. When I worked in the auto parts back in the day, it wasn't often ppl would buy plug wires when buying their tune-up parts. Earl Quote
desoto1939 Posted March 18, 2016 Report Posted March 18, 2016 Later cars like my 52 are just tubes, far from pretty lol Thinking about eliminating mine. I was always taught to keep plug wires away from metal and each other. They can and will arc to each other as well as ground. Especially if you install a higher voltage coil. Wires go bad and ppl don't seem to want to replace them. When I worked in the auto parts back in the day, it wasn't often ppl would buy plug wires when buying their tune-up parts. Earl Earl: That is correct when the cars were being driven on a daily basis. Tuneup every 7K miles or what ever. But now adays we drive them less so the wires and points and such should last longer. We might get corrosion and the points and condenser might fail because of sitting. My telltale sign to replace the wires is when I runt he car in the garage and the garage light is off and it is night time and real dark in the garage. I look for any arching as you mentioned. If I see that then it is really time to change the wires.. Rich HArtung desoto1939@aol.com Quote
Bingster Posted March 18, 2016 Report Posted March 18, 2016 Do you mean that two-tube fitting that the plug wires are routed through? I think that is one of the nicer designed parts. Quote
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