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What's that metal clippy thing in the spark plug boot called?

yoshmyster

I was getting ready for the smog test so I was checking the plugs #2 in particular. Couldn't get to it so I started on the driver's side. When I came across #5 the metal clippy in the boot thing was not there. I might've felt something crumbly when I was getting the socket on the plug. The plug was difficult to remove. It was dry but darker than the other plugs. Anyways I wanna contact MSD and ask for it by the correct term so when a lady answers she won't judge me.

I think they got build your own so I maybe able to re-build it or see if they'll just sell me the #5? I can't find the box that the wires came in. I recall there was a spare? I think there was.

I hope I won't need a special tool to make the wire. Being the Driver's side there is a little extra wire. Otherwise I'll have to fork over silly money for one wire  a kit. And I don't know if my car will last another 100K miles.

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Comments

18 comments

Date Votes
  • SoreShoulder
    I think it's "terminal." 

    Spark plug wires and boots should be kept in good condition and changed before 100,000 miles because they are a major source of engine fires in accidents.  
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  • Horse Plains Drifter
    Spark plug wire terminal. You should be able to get those at any auto parts store. You can put those on with your standard wire crimping/stripping pliers. 
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  • Toolman286
    Check with your friends & neighbors. Unless they're all millennials, someone should have an extra wire.
    3
  • Ditch-Runner
     ok take off a point for not knowing the name,  but add 5 for doing it your self  congrats on that getting more rare all the time 
    any parts store or even a old plug wire can donate the terminal  for your needs . no reason to get a new plug wire 
         I am a bit of a hoarder  armature working on my merit badge  LOL
      so I keep at least the last set of plug wires off each car truck i have when I change them out , + a few hundred +other parts and pieces . 


      Ok side story on car parts when I was about 16 we lived across the street form a small church the preacher(s) were always trying to get me to come over ( there job so I was polite but never went ) 
        one fellow who I liked but did not last long at the church among his previous occupations before become a preacher he  had  robed, stole , even  killed 4 people one out and three in prison  , he told me when he needed a part for his car during that time in his life he would find a big parking lot  seek out a car like his and well get what he needed and on his way  :o
     that was before he seen the light ( a whole story it its self but was a changed man for sure ) 
        I think he scared the congregation way too much so much fire and brimstone in his sermons , with in a few months they had a new preacher , but I will always remember him he would come over and talk to me while I worked on my cars 

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  • mac10
    i rember when you could buy a roll and the boots and terminals and make a custom set
    3
  • spasmcreeksrun
    made many a set on the vehicles years ago......
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  • yoshmyster
    Wake up and the answers are here. Had a night to sleep on it and I'm thinking if one went it's a matter of time for others where it can't be fixed. From the pic it's simple enough job but the boot of mine is a 90° so I may snap of the Snap Lock Plug Grip? I'll see if I can locate it locally and see how much MSD charges for those and price how much a new set of wires cost. I remember them being in the $130 range? I might as well price a coil while I'm at it.
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  • mogley98
    Oouch

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  • yoshmyster
    No ouch is my right forearm that had to get in between the steering wheel line and the brake fluid block. My arm looks like I diddled a angry bobcat getting to the #7 plug. Worse is getting to the #2 blind and contorted. I need a elbow in between my forearm. They say I can get to it from the tire well but that means I have to take the tire off (equals more work).
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  • SoreShoulder
    mac10 said:
    i rember when you could buy a roll and the boots and terminals and make a custom set
    Still can. But why not spend on a good, factory made set which will be less likely to ignite spilled fuel in the event of a head-on collision?
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  • yoshmyster

    Well did some looking and the "terminal" I could've had gotten them at autozone but the help wasn't much help. Found the silly thing on their site. I guess not many folks repair just replace. Looked on Holley (I guess they bought MSD?) and they sell 50 or 100 terminals bulk pack or two with boots. Also priced their wiring pliers and the vice crimper to do the job. All in all I won't save much even though the new set of wires are in the $180 range. They went up. I wonder if it's because there aren't many LT1/LT4?

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  • Junkballer
    yoshmyster said:
    No ouch is my right forearm that had to get in between the steering wheel line and the brake fluid block. My arm looks like I diddled a angry bobcat getting to the #7 plug. Worse is getting to the #2 blind and contorted. I need a elbow in between my forearm. They say I can get to it from the tire well but that means I have to take the tire off (equals more work).
    Not sure what your driving but many vehicles are made to where you can go through the wheel well for those hard to reach plugs, just move the fiber-board to the side........no scratched up arms and sore backs from contorting & twisting. ..........OOPs ! Apparently I didn't read your last sentence........sorry.
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  • Don McManus
    I am dying to know if the woman judged you anyway, yosh.

    Please let us know.

    Don

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  • iceracerx
    mac10 said:
    i rember when you could buy a roll and the boots and terminals and make a custom set
    (A roll) Packard 440 plug wire (can't remember what boots I used, but I bought 8) was the hot set up for replacing the wires on the Mallory distributor (dual point) on my Mopar 413
    3
  • Nanuq907
    I made a set of wires for my hotrod motorcycle and there were two kinds of wire ... carbon core or wire core.  I didn't know what I was doing so the first purchase, carbon core, were ruined with my messing around.  Once I figured out the process I went to wire core and they still live on the racebike, and still work flawlessly.  Easy job.
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  • Smitty500mag
    I think it's "terminal." 

    Spark plug wires and boots should be kept in good condition and changed before 100,000 miles because they are a major source of engine fires in accidents.  

    That might be true for older vehicles but both of mine don't even call for a spark plug change in the manual for over 100,000 miles. A lot of new cars don't even have plug wires. They have coil-on-plug (COP) ignition system. 
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  • yoshmyster

    Don McManus - Didn't have to make that call so no woman as of date has judged me.  

    Smitty500mag - Nah MSD had them listed as Terminals. As for the 100K miles spark plug wire change not being mentioned they don't expect you to have that ride because you either traded it in or Found On Road Dead :D .

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  • yoshmyster
    Even with Snap Lock Plug Grip missing I guess the spark jumps enough to pass the smog test. I went in expecting to fail but I wanted to know just the same. I think I'm gonna order the 50 pack of the terminals/Plug Grips and fix these. Not that it matters now that the smog test is good for another 2 years.
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