Ignition Leads
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Hungry_Horse_1955
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:13 pm
Ignition Leads
The ignition leads on my 1939 16SS leave a lot to be desired! The leads need replacing and I would like some advice on what people think is the best replacement leads? Should I get some original leads from the usual suppliers or would I be better off upgrading the system to modern leads, connectors and coil? I'm not too worried about authenticity but conversely I don't want a set of bright red leads!
Clive
2001 Range Rover Vogue
1994 Range Rover LSE
1987 Range Rover Vogue EFi (Awaiting restoration)
1979 Range Rover Carmichael Commando RIV
1974 Range Rover Carmichael Commando RIV
1939 Rover 16 Sports Saloon
1991 VW Golf Country Chrom-Edition
2001 Range Rover Vogue
1994 Range Rover LSE
1987 Range Rover Vogue EFi (Awaiting restoration)
1979 Range Rover Carmichael Commando RIV
1974 Range Rover Carmichael Commando RIV
1939 Rover 16 Sports Saloon
1991 VW Golf Country Chrom-Edition
Re: Ignition Leads
I've never had a reason to look beyond copper cable like this :
https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ ... ategory/22
The problem with some newer plug ends can be that they are too large to fit under the ignition lead/distributor cover. Although screw on brass terminals will fit if carefully aligned and well tightened I've recently made a complete new set for a 14 using these :
https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ ... ategory/15
The other end, of course, just has the split washer and bare copper ends. That just leaves the crimping of the cable plug end to the terminal. Ripaults make a tool that does this neatly but maybe someone near you may have one and do this for you. Should you live anywhere near Dumfries (maybe unlikely!) I would happily do this for you. I make the cost of the bits to be about £16 +VAT+p&p although other suppliers may be cheaper. How that compares with ready made sets I can't say.
I'm adding some photos, please excuse the lack of tidiness but this particular car is a recent arrival and I'm working through what it needs. You'll hopefully see from the photos that the issues are both the length and width of the plug covers. Too long and your distributor /lead cover won't fit. Too wide and they won't have enough room for the centre cylinders. I remember years ago with a previous car having an intermittent lack of power and it was the brass screw on terminal on number 6 cylinder shorting out against the speedometer cable, preventable with some insulating tape once the culprit was identified.
https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ ... ategory/22
The problem with some newer plug ends can be that they are too large to fit under the ignition lead/distributor cover. Although screw on brass terminals will fit if carefully aligned and well tightened I've recently made a complete new set for a 14 using these :
https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ ... ategory/15
The other end, of course, just has the split washer and bare copper ends. That just leaves the crimping of the cable plug end to the terminal. Ripaults make a tool that does this neatly but maybe someone near you may have one and do this for you. Should you live anywhere near Dumfries (maybe unlikely!) I would happily do this for you. I make the cost of the bits to be about £16 +VAT+p&p although other suppliers may be cheaper. How that compares with ready made sets I can't say.
I'm adding some photos, please excuse the lack of tidiness but this particular car is a recent arrival and I'm working through what it needs. You'll hopefully see from the photos that the issues are both the length and width of the plug covers. Too long and your distributor /lead cover won't fit. Too wide and they won't have enough room for the centre cylinders. I remember years ago with a previous car having an intermittent lack of power and it was the brass screw on terminal on number 6 cylinder shorting out against the speedometer cable, preventable with some insulating tape once the culprit was identified.
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Re: Ignition Leads
Modern carbon cored ignition leads work well although fitting them to the dist cap can be a fiddle
Mike
Mike