mk1-forum.net

1966 Austin Cooper S (July build)

Just finishing engine rebuild and have several questions related to distributor.
It is a side entry 23D4 Lucas - 40819H


#1 what type of spark plug cap is this?
it is rubber and not hard Bakelite.
“CHAMPION” appears on top and both sides.
Should the lettering be white?

#2 are the terminal/clip ends still available?
If not, what is suitable replacement?

#3 wire is green and says “LUCAS SUPPRESSION”
Is this correct for the “S” and year?
Does the wire need to be replaced?

#4 the yellow bands on each wire are different sizes.
Is this significant? I see no numbers on them.

These are also on my car, a April built 1968 North American Export (Canadian) Cooper S and believed to be original from new. I'm not sure when suppressor wires became mandatory over here in North America, but think it was around this time.
The yellow bands were originally numbered 1thru 4 I'm not sure if the photo shows the ( faded) numbers.
There's a second smaller boot that slides over the ign wire, that becomes a seal for the plug ends.Ive also seen the terminals available from a few British Bike restoration sites.

Paul

I found a picture of an “S” with a Dec 1964 build date on BAT which has the same cap and yellow bands.

If does not have the rubber sleeve but does appear to have some sort of clamp; I have neither!
What is “normal”?

Green spark plug company do nearest clips to those, I used them on my car, although my caps were Bakelite ones, they are not exactly the same but work fine.
I wouldn’t change those leads though if they work ok, I have carbon leads again from green spark plug company but they are not lucas but best I could find, you can check them with a multimeter

rogerotto66s wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 11:19 pm I found a picture of an “S” with a Dec 1964 build date on BAT which has the same cap and yellow bands.

If does not have the rubber sleeve but does appear to have some sort of clamp; I have neither!
What is “normal”?


1D7F1D62-CA49-4C55-8526-4B50AF17AAFD.png

I also found this photo published in a Sept 1965 UK Book showing the same plug ends but no clamps. Sorry for the grainy image

I will be replacing my old terminal ends with these 90 degree spring lock terminals.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/tay-44409

Just purchased a set of “MGB” spark plug wires from The Roadster Factory here in the States. They are green in color just like my original HT leads. They come with caps on both ends which I will remove. One end has the appropriate spark plug terminal. I will remove the terminal on the other end since I have a side entry distributor cap. I will reuse my rubber cap.

Top is original. Bottom is new wire and terminal.

Looks like the cap I have (Champion on top and both sides) is WC187.
The kit appears to have new terminals as well as clamps.

rogerotto66s wrote: ↑Fri Jul 16, 2021 6:13 pm Looks like the cap I have (Champion on top and both sides) is WC187.
The kit appears to have new terminals as well as clamps.


CDC21CD7-DC44-488A-A1EC-AF1DF4811B42.png



306F32EA-D565-45B2-A985-E5CADF6078E0.png

Early cars used clamps, later cars used rubber sleeves from what I've observed

Recently located the wire insulators for my ‘66 “S”.
At the same time I installed my original yellow wire numbers.
I did use “press on” numbers.

.. on to the next project … installing original green wiper fluid tubing.