Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

No we don't solder spark plug wire ends on request. I doubt there's a car on the road made since 1950 that had soldered ends. For a start it's not necessary, either they're made by stripping 1/2" and folding the wire back then crimping on a terminal or an end is put on with a spike that penetrates the rubber or on the dist end a terminal with a spike going into the center of the wire or a clip is inserted in to the end then a terminal is crimped on.

The methods above were more efficient to make than soldering and give just as good performance

Much ado about nothing.

I have made my own spark plug wires in the past. But it has been many years. Is wire, ends and boots still available? I can purchase a set of pre made wires from you, Kanter, I don't mind. But will need some new wire separators as pictured in the post. Was the gas tank for 40 supers ever started by Kanter?

Our wire sets are universal, spark plug ends are affixed, you cut to length , put on distrib boot and affix contact.

The separators are simple to install afterwards as they have slits, we do not sell them

Steele has a 4 hole separator listed for Cadillac. If you want to check it out go to his site and do a search for spark plug wire spacer. The Cad item appears to be thicker than the one on your car. The Packard listing has a 3 hole but no four holes. Interestingly, the Cad 4 hole is cheaper than the 3 hole.

The Cad item has a groove on the end like it might fit in some kind of holder and I think it might be stronger than what Packard used or at least what he sells for Packard. I bought the 3 hole early in the 47 restoration and it is comparatively thin and weak. Without going out and looking again, think one of the holes has already cracked and split.

I made a set of wires for my '48 288 from 'stuff' I bought from www.Brillman.com. The wire is fabric covered with a gloss black finish. Straight ends . . . no boots at the plugs, but with boots at the distributor. Fred is quite right, soldering is not needed. Consider the radio suppressed ignition wires, with a carbon impregnated synthetic core. The core is folded over the outer insulation and the terminal end wraps around holding the core sandwiched between the terminal and the wire diameter. That technique works just fine with metal core wires . . . which by the way are not always copper.
With respect to the wire separators; mine were also some type of Kryptonite and broke as soon as I tried to remove the old ignition wires. I used a strip of 1/8 rubber to come-up with a replacement. I went over the deep end and made some 4, 3, and 2 hole versions, which are clearly not original.
With respect to the 8 hole wire separator that is directly under the coil. Treat that piece with some care . . . a 'new' replacement is worth more than a wire set. The separator in my '54 was still elastic and could be deflected enough to install the wires. On the other hand my '48 separator was again some derivative of Kryptonite, so I opened the separator with a putty knife just enough to slip the wire through the hole. The distributor end of each wire was made with the wire installed in the car.
My '48 has an Autolite distributor which physically rotates when the vacuum advance comes into play. I made sure I didn't create a 'banjo string' situation between the distributor cap and the 8 hole separator under the coil. I also tried to route the wires such that no wire crossed over another at the distributor end . . . I've never been able to tell if that's the way they left the factory, but plates 84 & 87 suggest that the pace of the production line did not lend itself to paying that close attention to something that picayune.
I would encourage Tim49 to make an ignition wire set himself . . . just mind your P&Qs with respect to the firing order . . . and cover the fender, you'll be leaning-in for an hour or so.
dp

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David's picture above is correct for 1952. No boots on the spark plug ends.

Just to be a bit more specific as to Big Kev's comment, no "molded on" boots as an integral part of the plug wire, but slip-on boots were available as Packard Accessory PA403995 and listed for use thru the 25th Series.

Thank you all, got it. Thanks for the pictures.

thank you so much for the pictures and great advice.
I never noticed the spark plug end in the first pic. I always assumed that the plug ends always had a boot.
thanks

What's the proper way to install the wires in the 8 wire separator, 1-4 to the left and 5-8 to the right, or 1-4 on the top and 5-8 on the bottom?