Question regarding spark plug wire terminals

[DeS-11]

I tried searching here and elsewhere, but couldn't really find an answer to this. Regarding the distributor-end terminals of the vintage-type plug wires, what is the correct way to attach them? I'm referring to the small gold ones with the one prong at the end and one at each side. It seems you just stick the end prong into the wire conductor and then crimp the side prongs into the insulation, but I have a feeling there's more to it than that. As you can tell, I've not done this before! And is there a "correct" crimper to use, or will a standard wire crimper do for this? Thanks for any help.

Edited July 12 by Vista-Panoramic
spelling mistake

[andyd]

This probably doesn't help or answer your question but I've just used either pliers or multi grips to "crimp" the brass ends into/onto the plug wires........I've heard that there are the correct type of tool available but have never chased up one.........andyd

[Dodgeb4ya]

Distributor plug wire ends typically sold by several old MoPar parts vendors are really not a reliable terminal end no matter how crimped to the wire end.

They usually stay in the cap when the plug wire is removed from said dizzy cap.

An orihinal MoPar terminal end shown as modern high quality cap ends.

Shown are the proper dizzy cap terminal ends and do require proper technique and terminal crimp pliers to install the terminals.

I have installed these terminal ends for years on the MoPar flatheads.

[DeS-11]

Thanks very much for putting that together; the pictures really tell the story. I thought the same as you, that those terminals (just like the one seen on the Niehoff box in your photo) seem pretty poor in design, although I suppose they must have done the job at least adequately if they stuck around for a while. But I think it would make sense to get a box of the more reliable ones that you mentioned and avoid later issues. I appreciate the pictures of the crimpers, as well, and I now realize that it will probably pay to spend a little on the correct tool for this in order to do it right.