-
Hi Guest!
You can help ensure that British Car Forum (BCF) continues to provide a great place to engage in the British car hobby! If you find BCF a beneficial community, please consider supporting our efforts with a subscription.
There are some perks with a member upgrade!**Upgrade Now**
(PS: Subscribers don't see this gawd-aweful banner
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
STOP!! Never post your email address in open forums. Bots can "harvest" your email! If you must share your email use a Private Message or use the 
smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
Can I switch from a side to top distributor cap?
- Thread starter tdskip
- Start date
Share this page
Tom, Moss lists a top entry cap for the 25D, P/N 163-815.
If you want to keep the side entry cap, just get a generic 7mm wire set, and cut off the ends that would normally load into the top, and install in the old cap. An 8mm wire is too big to fit into the holes in the cap. I run 8mm wires on one of mine, but I reamed the holes to 8mm to fit.
I usually make my own plug wires, and found that the best way to go with the side entry cap is to use copper core wire, rather than the fiber strand core. The contact screws don't work well with the fiber stuff.
Jeff
If you want to keep the side entry cap, just get a generic 7mm wire set, and cut off the ends that would normally load into the top, and install in the old cap. An 8mm wire is too big to fit into the holes in the cap. I run 8mm wires on one of mine, but I reamed the holes to 8mm to fit.
I usually make my own plug wires, and found that the best way to go with the side entry cap is to use copper core wire, rather than the fiber strand core. The contact screws don't work well with the fiber stuff.
Jeff
Trevor Jessie
Yoda
Offline
Re: Can I switch from a side to top distributor ca
If it is the proper cap, then it should be no problem unless your car is right hand drive... then it would interfer with the steering column.
If it is the proper cap, then it should be no problem unless your car is right hand drive... then it would interfer with the steering column.
Re: Can I switch from a side to top distributor ca
Side entry caps are so much easier and cheaper when it comes to plug wires.
Get a set of Chevy V8 7mm wires for what you would pay for a 4 banger set but now you have 2 full sets.
4 if you cut em right and buy the plug ends.
Side entry caps are so much easier and cheaper when it comes to plug wires.
Get a set of Chevy V8 7mm wires for what you would pay for a 4 banger set but now you have 2 full sets.
4 if you cut em right and buy the plug ends.
You will note that the side entry cap has small scruz inside the cap which hold and pierce the plug wires after cutting square and inserting each 7mm wire.
In order to function correctly and for any length of time, you must use wire (solid) core plug wire as using suppressor core or spiral wound core wire and piercing that wire, it will evntually fail as the hi-tension voltage will cause a "burn back" inside the core.
The downside of solid core wire is noise generation thus you cant use an am radio and an fm radio is iffy. Plus the fact that a neighbor next to you at the stoplight will look at you funny as he cant hear his cell phone or radio.
BUT wait! You can use VW/Bosch resistor spark plug terminals 9if you can find them) along with your Packard 440 type (or any brand) solid wire and make up your own set.
As you say..."roll ur own"
The advantage? Retaining the side entry cap if your a purist restorer.
Howd we get on this topic?
In order to function correctly and for any length of time, you must use wire (solid) core plug wire as using suppressor core or spiral wound core wire and piercing that wire, it will evntually fail as the hi-tension voltage will cause a "burn back" inside the core.
The downside of solid core wire is noise generation thus you cant use an am radio and an fm radio is iffy. Plus the fact that a neighbor next to you at the stoplight will look at you funny as he cant hear his cell phone or radio.
BUT wait! You can use VW/Bosch resistor spark plug terminals 9if you can find them) along with your Packard 440 type (or any brand) solid wire and make up your own set.
As you say..."roll ur own"
The advantage? Retaining the side entry cap if your a purist restorer.
Howd we get on this topic?
gchase
Freshman Member
Offline
I switched from side entry to top entry cap on my '70 Midget after experiencing burnt ends at the screws inside the cap.
Made getting up hills and passing kind of hard with only 2 cylinders firing well. I use the carbon fiber core wires so that was probably the reason for the failure. Everyone is correct tha you can make up a set of new wires easier with the side entry cap. All depends on what you want - for originality , the side entry cap is correct .
Made getting up hills and passing kind of hard with only 2 cylinders firing well. I use the carbon fiber core wires so that was probably the reason for the failure. Everyone is correct tha you can make up a set of new wires easier with the side entry cap. All depends on what you want - for originality , the side entry cap is correct .
