Making durable braided BB spark plug wires.

[Patrick B.]

In one of the many threads on braided wire problems, Mike McCagh recommended using Packard 440 wire threaded into the braids of old wires. I have a set or two of old OE BB wires that are no good and missing their grey boots, and I would like to use their braids to make some new wires. Does anyone know where to get grey boots? Where can you get the correct terminals for 440 wire? Is there a special crimping tool to make durable connections?

[Gene M.]

Re: Making durable braided BB spark plug wires.

Patrick,
Check on line there are blue Ford wires that had gray boots. Also some other cheap sets you can salvage the gray boots from. I have no idea if the configuration is correct. Scan e bay ignition wires for possibilities.

[Dick W.]

Re: Making durable braided BB spark plug wires.

In one of the many threads on braided wire problems, Mike McCagh recommended using Packard 440 wire threaded into the braids of old wires. I have a set or two of old OE BB wires that are no good and missing their grey boots, and I would like to use their braids to make some new wires. Does anyone know where to get grey boots? Where can you get the correct terminals for 440 wire? Is there a special crimping tool to make durable connections?

Pat, I can loan you the crimping tool. I will look around and see if I have any old boots left.

[Larry M.]

Re: Making durable braided BB spark plug wires.

Pat, I can loan you the crimping tool. I will look around and see if I have any old boots left.

I'm sure the crimping tool will work fine, but I have always soldered the end connections on all my Packard 440 wires. That way I know they are good.

Use a little bit of talcum power or dielectric grease on the boot internal surface to help pull the terminals back into the boots after crimping or soldering.

Larry

[Dick W.]

Re: Making durable braided BB spark plug wires.

I'm sure the crimping tool will work fine, but I have always soldered the end connections on all my Packard 440 wires. That way I know they are good.

Use a little bit of talcum power or dielectric grease on the boot internal surface to help pull the terminals back into the boots after crimping or soldering.

Larry

The crimp also holds the terminal to the wire. I too solder my wires for good measure. Mechanical electrical joint is not as reliable long term as a soldered connection.

[Patrick B.]

Re: Making durable braided BB spark plug wires.

Pat, I can loan you the crimping tool. I will look around and see if I have any old boots left.

Thanks Dick. I would like to own a crimping if they are reasonable. What brand is yours. If you have any grey boots I would certainly like to have some. I only have one usable grey boot.

[Mike M.]

Re: Making durable braided BB spark plug wires.

i used a set of NOS deco plug wires to serve as donors for boots and terminals. i too solder each end of the plug wires. mike

[Patrick B.]

Re: Making durable braided BB spark plug wires.

i used a set of NOS deco plug wires to serve as donors for boots and terminals. i too solder each end of the plug wires. mike

Do current Delco wire sets for other cars use the grey silicon rubber boots like those for BB Corvettes or did you reconstruct an NOS Corvette set to replace the TVR wire with 440 wire?

[Dick W.]

Re: Making durable braided BB spark plug wires.

thanks dick. I would like to own a crimping if they are reasonable. What brand is yours. If you have any grey boots i would certainly like to have some. I only have one usable grey boot.

msd # 3505