My 20+ year old sbc distributor finally died so I have switched to HEI. Anybody have an easy way to put new boots and teminals on? I am using an 8mm Taylor set. Not traditional but any help will be appreciated.
i used dielectric grease..not sure of the spelling but you know what it is..its that clear grease you should use on your spark plug boots. i put some of it on the wire and some of it in the boot..slid on just fine.
Oh man, that is to easy....I learned a looooooooong time ago in the motorcycle business that one of the greatest unsung heros of bikes and cars is lighter fluid. It is incredible in that it makes anything you put it on slicker than snot for a short time and I have done these boots so many times with it I have it down to a sience. First cut your plug wire to length being sure to add a 1/2" to fold over for contact with the fitting. now comes to neat part. Squirt a shot of lighter fluid in the boot and slide the wire in until it meets the angle. Now, gripping the wire and bottom of the boot with your thumb and second finger take your forfinger and pull up on the front of the boot like you are trying to straighten it out and then just push and your wire will zip right on up out the front end. Be sure to bring it out about 2 inches so you will have ample room to crimp you br*** ****** on after folding over the 1/2" of core that you cut the sheathing away from. Now pop the ****** in the dizzy cap and simply slid your boot in place. Walla, on to the next one.
I like aerosol silicone spray too. In fact, I like the whole process of routing, cutting, and looming plug wires. Is that weird?
This is the woven plastic insulation you get on some of the aftermarket wire harness. I use a piece of it asa puller to put the wires in. Piece of cake.
Guys, Thanks for the replys. I tried the silicone and the lighter fluid and tal*** powder but I kept pulling off the terminals when I tried pulling the wire back into the boots. What I ended up doing was putting the terminal on the bare wire first then heating the boots in boiling water and pushing the wire/terminal through the softened boot. That worked. My 16 year old brain can't seem to make my 70 year old hands work as well as they used to. See you on the street.
If you are trying to get the wire through the 90 degree bend of the HEI boot, there is an easier way. Cut the wire to length, crimp your terminal on, and push the wire with the terminal already crimped on through the backside of the boot. There is no need to go through the 90 degree bend!!! A little dielectric grease will help.
Yep. Get the good terminals, crimp them on the wire. Spray something in the boot and drip it on the end of the wire/Terminal. I prefer Silicone spray, but carb cleaner or spit will do in a pinch. Stuff the terminal Facing up into the boot. Grab a Phillips and pry that booger up hard against the outside of that 90. No mess...
The Jalopy Journal
