Where to find a single plug wire?

[Supercharged111]

I broke my #1 plug wire and need a replacement. They're only a couple years old and would be a waste to replace them all. Hell, if I could crimp a new end onto this one I have some shorter wires to pillage good boots off of. Mine got roached when the exhaust manifold stud snapped and relieved a heat shield of duty. That's all fixed now, just need to get a wire on this thing so I can kick it back out to the hangar.

 

[PlayingWithTBI]

just need to get a wire on this thing so I can kick it back out to the hangar.

I've bought single wires before when I melted the boots in the back of the engine.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/b/...500-pickup-4wd?q=spark+plug+wire+-+individual

 

[Supercharged111]

Not seeing the right ones on the website, may just be worth a trip there to see.

 

[Schurkey]

So buy some terminals, and crimp a new end onto the existing plug wire. Every parts store in the USA should be able to sell you plug terminals, plug boots, or single plug wires.

I've seen terminals, boots, and single wires on Summit; although it's been a long time since I've looked for them.

 

[bowtie-72]

If you bought that set from AutoZone they will give you a whole new set free of charge, no questions asked.

 

[Supercharged111]

Oh boy was that an experience at Napa, I got the new kid that didn't know his ass from a hole in the ground and had to be told to find help. I let him struggle more than he needed to, he had ZERO problem solving skills. Told me they didn't sell terminals or single plug wires. I told him they did and when he finally asked someone we had a part number in seconds. So for $1.17 I got a 7mm and 8mm terminal and was on my way. Sacrificed a spare wire, confiscated it's boot, crimped the new terminal on and we're back on 8 cylinders. Thanks Schurkey!

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[HotWheelsBurban]

Good to know that parts houses still sell terminals and single wires. Knew they did back in the day cause I used to....On a couple of our square body trucks, Dad and I got a DIY set and made our own custom wires by putting the ends on. There was a 2 piece machined aluminum die that you used to make the proper crimp on the wire end, by squishing it in a bench vise. I got good at that after 36 wire ends .....

 

[Supercharged111]

None of the single wires had the correct terminal for the Vortec/LT1 distributor so this was my only option. I used to have one of those dies, but it seems to have grown legs. My S&K strippers had a spot for a 7-8mm plug wire so I used that.

 

[Schurkey]

There was a time when I bought a roll of spark plug wire, both boots, and terminals. Made my own wires by crimping on both ends.

It's do-able, but not economically feasible any more.

At this point, I've got multiple Summit "house brand" plug wire kits on the shelf. The spark-plug end is factory-assembled, leaving only the distributor end to put together--after cutting the wire to proper length.

A "good" spark-plug-wire crimper is a Godsend. There's a million junk tools that almost work.

 

[Supercharged111]

It's rare for me to need a plug wire crimper anymore as I just default to factory replacements that aren't a foot too long each, but it's one of those things that you really don't need until you do. I am a proponent of having tools like that on hand as when the need does arise, it tends to catch you with your pants down.