How to Build Spark Plug Wires | Hagerty DIY

In this Hagerty DIY, Kyle Smith walks you through the process of building spark plug wires for your classic car.
Hagerty’s DIY series is your handy-dandy, easy-to-use video guide to tackling small projects any classic car or truck owner might encounter during the course of ownership. In most cases, these projects require only basic tools, and our experts walk you through each step with clear, jargon-free explanations designed to get you and your favorite ride back on the road with minimal pain and suffering.
SMP - Spark Plug Wire Kit: www.amazon.com/Standard-Motor...
Self Adjusting Wire Stripper: www.amazon.com/KTI-56208-Self...
Ohm: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohm
Electrical Resistivity: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electri...
Measuring Electrical Resistivity: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electri...
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[@666Harleyman]

or just put the boot on the wire first then crimp the wire and slide the boot down to cover it

[@hasbeengood]

of course!! My thought also.

[@seanrebelo8016]

Tbh putting the boot on first is actually the way it's supposed to be done

[@thomasbouyer8701]

Why make it simple when you can make it complicated!!! AH AH AH

[@evelasq1]

good idea!

[@GETUPANDGO]

Fine, if you want to get all efficient and clever, lol

[@bmerfunitec]

The community of experienced comments around this instructive video don’t distract from the basic value it gives. Rather the community develop for watchers, a better deeper grasp of all aspects. Thank you collective/collaborators. 👍🏻

[@TERMINATORT8OO119]

When you take off the first silicone insulation when you come down to the core do not take the second black insulation off you just fold it back then crimp the connector on another thing I suggest that works for me is put your boot on first for the distributor then cut and crimp your wire Slide the boot over your wire and your crimped piece is better than forcing it the other way train mechanic

[@MrItsthething]

You can also use a razor blade to carefully cut the insulation away - cut almost down to the conducting core, all the way around, and then twist and pull. The rubber insulation comes clean off.

[@rubentrujillo3511]

leave the black graphite sheath on the fiberglass threads!!!!!

[@adventuresofwillandshelby6013]

ruben trujillo I’m here to learn... not being an ass... But why?

[@chanakyasinha8046]

Graphite is a conductor

[@cr33po778]

That was the first thing that threw me off ...He has got no clue. The small black "insulation" is GRAPHITE and is what carries the high voltage charge. In Japan they started to coil a very thin wire around the graphite.

[@austinlowery3176]

I feel like this has to be this guy's first time doing this...

[@weldingjunkie]

I fear you are right. Clear you exhaust? Lol say it with me manifold. 😂

[@robkesik6382]

@@weldingjunkie Ok, and what's the FULL name of that part? Exhaust Manifold. So, You're both half right?

[@weldingjunkie]

@@robkesik6382 You obviously did not watch the video

[@robkesik6382]

@@weldingjunkie sure I did. He said to keep the wires the correct length to keep them away from the exhaust. You smuggly corrected him to manifold. If the name of the part he was referring to is the exhaust manifold, than NEITHER of you are correct based on your need to have his term 100% match the name of the part.

[@weldingjunkie]

@@robkesik6382 haha ok 👌🏼 Troll.

[@mp330600]

Put the boot on first. Are you sure you know what your doing?

[@edwardglasser9602]

Bronco Billy a

[@gplusgplus2286]

probably not lol

[@Imraaan1022]

I have worked on two classic cars and I can tell you from first hand experience...you are not supposed to put dielectric grease on the metal portion of the spark plug wire as the dielectric grease is not a conductor of electricity. By putting the grease on the metal portion of the wire it will cause the ware to over heat and not function properly. You should only put the grease on the opening of the terminal. this will allow the boot not to stick and prevent tearing upon removal.

[@bmerfunitec]

Ok thanks. But otherwise you’d support this informative example…right?

[@realsecman]

Act all smart and you spell wire wrong.

[@stekay5273]

Thank you for that. Just to let you know I found it easier to put the rubber boot on the cable before crimping the coil connector end on first lubricating it with a small amount of Vaseline

[@realsecman]

Slide the cap on before you put the ends on. saves a lot of trouble getting the cap over the metal ends.

[@uncajimbo]

"So after I forgot to put the boot on first, I like to put dielectric grease on, and then hammer it on" OK Thanks for the well informed instruction.

[@rogerj7327]

Man,, I was cringing when he was twisting the heck out of the wire trying to get the boot on.

[@bugginryan]

lmfao

[@thomasmick469]

I was thinking the same thing, but then thought well I’m forgetful sometimes as are many others. Perhaps this will show someone that forgot to put the boot on first that they won’t absolutely need to start over. But yeah I cringed at first.

[@lollipop84858]

You still need the grease to help get it on the wire before crimping though

[@ponchoh.sanchez137]

thanks friend for the information thank you very much blessings for you and your family send you a big hug. since I have been having many problems with a fault code that cannot be found 👍👌🙏💯👼

[@Gearz70]

The inner connector wire should be folded back over the wire before it slides into the terminal to make a good connection.

[@davidweston9115]

On my wires I tried doing it with the black "inner insulation" still intact, and they had too much resistance when checked with fluke meter. (several Megaohms). So I stripped that part and did like this boy did, and when checking on the meter, they read correctly afterwards. It confuses me because I've done 20 sets of wires and this is the only one that wouldn't function unless I took away that black "inner sleave" that surrounds the tiny thin threads. And this was all with a set of factory wires that had both ends on from the factory. The reason I tested and did them over like I did was because the car ran terribly, missing constantly. I don't think I will ever know the real answer with everyone knowing everything and half of them saying it wrong. (but we don't know which half)

[@daveco1270]

Trying to put the boot on after you crimped the terminal seems like the hard way to do it. I slide the boot on the wire before I crimp the terminal...then it slides forward over the terminal very easily.

[@bmerfunitec]

Fantastic. A very well developed, clear and well videoed exemplar for me. Best regards to you. Thanks. My little Hillman Husky will appreciate your input. 😆

[@JRsGarage]

So this video would have you strip off the inner core insulation and expose the fibers before folding back on itself in the crimp. I've watched other videos that leave the inner insulation on and fold it back while intact. Which way is the correct way?

[@rubentrujillo3511]

this guy Screwed Up! He stripped the graphite coating or skin of the fiberglass threads, gotta leave that black sheath on!!!

[@jamesharris5232]

Leaving the graphite on. I've seen old plugs with the graphite sheath still intact. Especially from factory.

[@gothicstar6]

I belive the graphite coating is there to keep the fine threads collected or am I wrong?

[@Mahaney82]

Im about to do this for my first time and every other video I have watch says there is no need to strip the inner wire. You either fold it back or clamp it with a secondary pinch point. I'm a little confused.

[@jpalmiotti]

Me too. I’m leaning towards not stripping that inner black sleeve. I’m doing this for a motorcycle not a car; I wonder if there’s a difference… came to the comments to find someone’s expert opinion on this.

[@evelasq1]

Thanks for showing.

[@mikepelz7004]

you used the crimper wrong, the double side should have been the only crimp you needed.

[@matthewlewellen6516]

how can you use the crimper wrong when you are using the wrong crimper

[@grantw.whitwam9948]

Good video, any shortcomings have been covered in the comments, thanks.

[@BullProspecting]

I'm wondering why you didn't put the cover on first before crimping the wire? Is this like a pro tip to prevent something? I have to make some unfortunately .. I noticed you never put on the boot covers to show how its done. That part is what I'm struggling with.

[@kod2299]

Good video on how ' not to do it' 😅

[@rans471]

I am getting ready to connect my spark plug wires for my tractor b ut when I cut the end off there is no metal wire inside. How can this work with out a metal wire inside. I that skinny rope in the core conductive?

[@atomlinsonson8788]

yes!

[@snicrep1484]

its more difficult to get the wire through an elbowed boot, at least the spark plug end. ( Ididnt need the straight on). I tried it both ways.

[@atomicdmt8763]

rawsome! I wasnt aware of how easy is was to do this. I have a crazy long main lead from the ign coil and the inside of my engine cover is metal foil (van, doghouse) and I am suspecting Im getting misfires from wire contact, proxi

[@davidlytle6931]

I think there is a major mistake at the 4:50 mark when he strips the black sleeve to expose the white fiberglass threads. Isn't the black sleeve the conductor? By stripping the black sleeve, he has rendered this wire totally useless. Am I correct?

[@americanstreet8704]

Correct the black is the conductor you don’t strip that

[@ChengSAE]

My favorite part was the finger and lube. 4 years later I didn't need this but thanks.

[@mikesecondo2254]

Let's see a 90 boot on a 8.5 mm wire!!!!

[@ufowatch]

good job good information. for the future i would put the boot on the wire first then the end this way it does not take any force to get the boot on as its already done.

[@hueyhoolihan582]

probably left the most important part out. the part that shows how the wire is folded back under the connector so as to make the contact between the wire and the connector.

[@benfitch8795]

The boot should have gone in before the crimp on the end. And putting dielectric grease on the cap to slip it on just greases the cap connection, as dielectric grease is insulating your only decreasing the effectiveness of the connections

[@fredkaier1405]

dielectric grease is a conductor

[@benfitch8795]

@@fredkaier1405 your absolutely right. Thanks for correcting my comment. I was less informed 5 years ago.

[@rachaelhilton2696]

Thank you for making that! It’s just what I needed. Great job! Big like!

[@johnritchie4801]

SHOULD HAVE PUT THE BOOT ON BEFORE CRIMPING

[@wrenchmanhotrods1247]

Why didn't you show the 90 degree distributor end that the hardest .

[@johnlaws9853]

Do a damn 90° boot!!

[@MrMrsregor]

im confused, MSD's video shows them leaving the black layer of inner insulation on and Hagerty's video shows them stripping it off .?.!. which is it ? they both seem like a trustable source, but both do it different

[@GotScout]

*** Tip #1, @"8:45"... preload a section of heat shrink on wire, then grease and pre-load the boot too.... THEN do all the wiring crap...

[@youtuber-MGTOW]

boot on first

[@djsuretay1]

What do you do with the wire that was in the white insulation

[@MrEyad1990]

You should off slid down the boot first before crumbing it .

[@PROTEUS_SEER-OF-EONS]

Welcome to KZbin! Here you will be misled through a series of overproduced videos!

[@ObesePuppies]

I like these type of videos

[@juneidabubakar2756]

Fuentes me too

[@robertparzych7852]

This is the incorrect way. You should leave the inner black sheath on the plug wire.

[@sirensofnewjerseyissimplyt429]

Great video

[@jackantoine5185]

So many mistakes it’s hard to know where to start so I won’t

[@PaulA-ky6bv]

Where do I get 10.5 mm distributor ends for a Vortec?

[@rodgerhoveka9125]

i need to now where i can get every thing to do spark plug wires

[@matthewlewellen6516]

dont ask this guy. all the tools he is using are residential wiring. The crimp he applied is very poor. you should look at Jegs website or Amazon ,any auto store

[@7oblitz488]

Does this work for motorcycles

[@barrygordon1173]

Those fancy wire stippers have a cutter on them...lol

[@davcot3675]

Put. AP on first. Before crimping wire

[@GETUPANDGO]

Probably won't have to do this, but at least I now know how

[@burtmcgurt3577]

You do not remove the carbon shield from the core!

[@ejscarfo]

I thought the same thing.

[@christianpaul1448]

your channel is awesome..you are artists

[@kurtg5645]

Wrong crimp tool，wrong cable strip tool，wrong about putting the cap afterward. So it's about nothing right here. Is this the right way to make 'HOW TO' video?

[@tableseven8133]

Something I find weird about now three of these example of assembly on KZbin and this is the worst, if you are running a straight connector, why OH WHY not run the wire through before adding the connector instead of then having to force the larger object through a very tight fit end part. Having the right tool is a great part of this but have we lost all common sense....

[@joe-hp4nk]

Two things , first he didn't put the boot on first and second he didn't fold the wire back over so it will contact the terminal.

[@TomfromExeter]

Folded at 07:11

[@weldingjunkie]

Hopefully the 112k views no one did it this way.

[@robbiehattaway5765]

He would pick the easy straight boot. He should have installed the 90 degree boot. The word weenie comes to mind.

[@supertuned]

you are not supposed to strip the core.

[@Lilthrasher]

No way! My name is Kyle Smith, what's up?

[@anthonygasparini1734]

Put the boot on the wire set first before you make up the end so you don't tear the boot...crimping the end before putting on the boot is a rookie mistake!

[@DanteLanznaster]

c'mon the specialty wire stripping/crimping tool is like $20.

[@user-oj8xk6kz2u]

Wow I'm deaf mute I'm see video thanks help me ...

[@MrBoehol]

This is wrong, you should leave the inner carbon on .That is the conductor ....

[@johnmilner7603]

Your not suppose to strip off the insulation on the inside wire.

[@overthehillsandfaraway7411]

How not to assemble a wire

[@rjl6532]

They should stick to sell insurance

[@ZeGermanHam]

This video needs to be taken down by @Hagerty. There are too many mistakes/bad info within it, and it's one of the first videos that comes up when searching KZbin for videos about plug wires. So many people have been/will continue to be improperly taught how to do this task by following this video.

[@marsh1707]

Don’t you mean HT leads??

[@nzsaltflatsracer8054]

They didn't know wtf I was talking about when I first used that term here in the US.

[@amit2hotgun]

This should be a 3-4 min video. Also, slide the boot onto the cable first and then crimp it. SMH

[@toolguyslayer1]

Oh I see what the comment was saying now yeah he did it backwards you put the cover on first and then crimp it one time and that would usually spray mine with WD-40 I see what the comment was saying oh yeah he did it backwards you put the cover on first and then trumpet one time and I would usually spray mine with WD 40

[@rjl6532]

Totally a bad installation boots should go on first then strip wire but don’t strip off the black conductor this guy is a jerk We build wire sets for a living

[@Maverick8175]

Roman Lucyszyn he’s a jerk?

[@robertparzych7852]

Also those pliers he is using are JUNK!!

[@Homjachello]

Хм, я обычно центральный провод загибаю под наконечник и обжимаю...

[@princesssolace4337]

You don't do wiring that much l see...should have put the boot like how mic cables are done.

[@robertadriano8100]

..inserting that cap that way is dumb dude..lol.. you should have it go in into the wire first before all the connector attachment and crimping process is done..much easier plus it could save you that grease stuff off your fingertips..hehe

[@fuji2447]

Last

[@patton9696]

Too far away. Make it close up

[@faithfulpatriot4008]

Some college degrees are worthless. 😂

[@stephanieo6252]

The terminal your showing isnt correct. Proper wire and terminal vary. Terminals are put on from a large roll that runs through a machine. That machine is a human operated machine operated by a foot pedal. Wires must be CAREFULLY inserted into the terminal. The wire only goes into the terminal to a specific depth. You cant just insert it blindly. Then the crimp should be done to just a specific depth. As to hold it on but not penetrate it. If too deep or too loose it will damage it or come off. Then they go through a pull test. It tests how much pressure it takes to remove it. Too easy and it will work off there and too tight damages it. Those boots are NOT designed to be done by hand. In factory we soak the boots in Silicone. Then the boots are placed on a machine that has a special rod. the rod spreads the boot open then we place the wires in and then pull off. Please get correct info prior to making a video telling people how to do it. Its far better to purchase them already made.

[@jimmysavo8829]

why you don't put the boot before crimp the wire? this is a very stupid job!

[@robertpapp96]

If you do it for yourself it's your business, but please do not teach that.. like others mentioned you have no clue what you do...

[@otis1716]

Msd has a wayyyy better video

[@RevHardGarage]

Literally everything you did was wrong.

[@christopherbaird4952]

Please take this video down. I just ruined a set of spark plug wires because I followed your directions and stripped the "inner insulation." And putting the boot on after crimping the end? That's just dumb.

[@roverman985]

Ha Ha Ha I get it. This is a how not to do it video. He absolutely done all of it wrong.

[@TJFLHT08]

First

[@savagenomore]

OMFG....why does youtube allow "how to" videos that have some guy that hasn't a damn clue of the "how to" part of the subject of the video...I mean it's like they got Kyle from the accounts receivable department then had him grow a beard to make a how to vid for crimping plug wires...smh

[@robkesik6382]

Hey Man, Kyle is a good dude. Leave him out of this...

[@captnjaygreybeard6394]

Cant recommend, too many wrongs in this video

[@wesleyvinal9801]

1.75m followers for this? What a joke

[@Zarkdx97]

first

[@sirensofnewjerseyissimplyt429]

Zark Dx yes you are

[@otis1716]

This guy really pisses me off as a mechanic

[@krobe1000]

This guy talks to much this video should be 2 minutes not almost 12

[@pippadhiety228]

noob, you do this all wrong my thinks but thats another story... "debris flying around my engine compartment" hahaha whats flying around my engine compartment? you funny...