new spark plug wire assembly suggestions?

i have a new set of wires to complement rest of my new ignition set up. the plug end is assembled in the kit. the distributor end is not. that, i have to put together. and that is proving difficult.

The issue is this: it's very difficult to get the rubber boot to slide onto the wire. It will go about 1/4 inch, but that's it. It's just tight and gets caught up. Is there some trick to getting the rubber boot to slide onto the wire with some level of ease? Do i just lube it up?

Thanks for the advice.

 

Little bit of soap. Did you read the directions?

 

Soap... ah yes. I forget what a great (temporary) lube that is.

Directions... yes. It had about 10 words and an after pic. No mention of lube or tools how hints on how to hold it for best grip. Nothing useful there. Which is what brought me here. I figured there was some simple trick to it.

Off to soap 'em up...

 

I used silicon spray but dish soap works great, also if your going to do it more then invest in spark plug wire pliers/crimpers:

 

Ditto what ioldtimer said, get the crimpers, no you can't use something else (as good)
Now everyone tell us how wrong we are

 

Lube it, man! Most kits come with a small pack of silicon. I've used vaseline in a pinch. It shouldn't take much.

 

Gojo style handsoap works well too

 

Veener slider ! Yep, lube it up good with silicone and it will push right through. It is helpful to bend the rubber boot down so that the wire will push past the 90 degree bend. Wet both the wire and the boot and it will make it easier, but it dries pretty quick so you have to move pretty fast.

As for crimping the ends on, most kits like Taylor and MSD come with a plastic two part tool that you insert the parts into and either hit with a hammer or use vice grips to clamp together. I still don't trust just that so I use small pliers to make sure the crimp is biting into the wire. An ohm meter after is a good idea to check continuity.

Don

 

I also vote for the spark plug wire crimpers. I have fumbled through them with pliers or a vise or whatever was handy in the past. I recently invested in the proper tool and it is night and day difference, seems I can do the whole set on my flathead in the time I fumbled with one wire the wrong way.

 

outstanding feedback! i used liquid dish soap, shot it right into the boot, and the wire slid right on through. when it got caught up in the elbow, i used a screwdriver to help it turn the corner. super fast and easy.

thanks all for the super helpful tip.

now i hope that when i plug it all up it fires up. this is for a 283 in my '55 sedan. the motor came out out a running '57 that was going big block. i picked up a used accel distributor and controller, a new coil and new wires. we'll lined up the timing tomorrow and give it a spin and see what happens!

(and yes, i know there is a lot of dislike for the accel products out there. but at least it was an affordable step up from the procomp that was on this motor when i got it!)

 

Last weekend we used a shot of WD-40. Worked well & was not messy.