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

Hello Gents,
Since I have spent weeks on engine detailing I want to replace the modern plug wires. I think the wires should be varnished cloth with rubber caps on the distributor ends. I gather from other posts that the spark plug end should be just a clip, going straight up, no boot. Have I got this right? Any advantage to boots over the plugs?
Thanks guys,
Mark

It would be helpful to know what year Clipper you're inquiring about.

Rubber boots, though not factory equipment until 1955 when they were molded to the wire, were Packard accessories at least from 1948 thru 1954. So as long as they are listed in the parts book for those years their use would be authentic.

I believe all Clippers except the V8s had straight metal spark plug clips.

I'm not sure when the transition from black lacquered cloth covered wire to black rubber occurred but I suspect it was postwar. No doubt someone else will know.

Mr. Dyneto - many thanks for the info.
Perhaps I missed the memo, but in the past my signature included "47 Custom Super". Not sure what's up there.

In any event, the orange right angle plug boots have got to go.

Thanks again.
Mark

'54 came with factory rubber boots per the PI Judging guide. 53 did not.

'54 came with factory rubber boots per the PI Judging guide. 53 did not.

That's interesting Kev and inconsistent with the part listing which shows all the 53 and 54s with the same wire set except for the 359 engine.

I will double check the reference.

Kev, the 48-54 parts book lists the accessory spark plug boots (insulators) as PA403995 and says they apply to all 22nd thru 25th series. One might infer from that that they are not listed for the 26th and 54th series because their wire sets had molded boots. Curious and inconsistent with the part numbers for the actual wire sets.

Meanwhile, Gr. 4.11065 lists spark plug boots ONLY for 54th Series - two different types, depending on chassis/engine.

This suggests to me that - up to this point in time - all replacement wire sets were shipped without spark plug boots and those boots had to be ordered separately for the 54th Series for complete replacement.

Though I've no hands-on experience with these wire sets, I do know that the molded boots for the V8 wire sets are removable (and available, separately, for service).

Correction 1953 was the first year for factory boots. I knew we had this discussion before, here it is again from the archives of my project blog:

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=19265#forumpost19265

Thanks Kev & others for clearing all that up. Now perhaps we can get back to the original poster's other question, when did the change from black, lacquered cloth-covered high tension wire to black rubber begin?