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Correct colour BJ8 Spark Plug Wires / HT Leads

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SteveHall64Healey

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Does anyone happen to know the correct (i.e. factory original) colour for the spark plus wires (also known as HT Leads in some circles) for a BJ8?
thanks,
steve
 
Steve, I quote from the Austin-Healey 100/100-6/3000 Restoration Guide by Anderson and Moment, page 155:
"Spark plug wires were black with no lettering and had braided wire cores..... On the 29K (BJ8) engines, the spark plug boots were right-angle black Champion waterproof rubber boots and the leads were numbered with black numbers on yellow sleeves approximately 3/8 inch long just above the boots. A few BJ8s with original radios have been found with black and white 'bow-tie' Champion static arresting spark plug boots like those that were normally installed on Jaguars of the period. These may have been installed when the dealer installed the radio."
I once saw the white bow-tie wire terminals on an original set of wires in a car still belonging to the original owner. Radios could be installed at the factory, as well as the dealers, so it's possible the white bow-tie wires were factory original.

I hope you will take advantage of the BJ8 REGISTRY button at the top of the forum page to allow me to enter your car in the registry, or to update the information in case I already have the car entered under one or more previous owner.

Thanks,
 
Can anyone recommend a good supplier in North America for period-correct, high quality wires with noise supression? I've tried Accel, but copper-core wires in black are only available in kit form. I would really prefer to have factory-crimped plug boots.

I put a set of Accel universal wires on my TR4a, which worked extremely well. These had factory-crimped boots and you simply trimmed them to length. Unfortunately, Accel only sells them in yellow - which looked good on a TR4a, but would not be appropriate for a Healey.

Any recommendations?

thanks,
steve
 
Last edited:
SteveHall64Healey said:
Thanks for the reference - it looks like a good site. Unfortunately, they do not appear to sell spark plus wire sets.
thanks
steve
Click to expand...

You do not have to have a set you can use Bosch plug caps angled or straight and I recommend they be suppressed. The dizzy end does not needcaps or standard ones can be installed . Yourold wires can establish the proper lengths for each cylinder.
 
If you order a wire 'set' from Moss they supply a sheet with the correct length for the wires (you have to cut them yourself). I recommend Lucas distributor caps; have not had good luck with other brands (inc. Bosch). I also use suppressor caps and resistor plugs.
 
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