Original Leads 1963

[minidean]

So I have 4 matching original plug caps and all the bits (courtesy of Nick Rodgers). I need to know what HT Lead I need and how to put it all together? I want these to be as original as possible. Can anyone help?

[dklawson]

I don't have a definitive answer for you except to suggest a glance through Parnell's book to see what others used.

I think the standard wires were simply 7mm diameter with a matte black appearance and stranded copper core. For a period accessory there was the Bumble Bee wire which was yellow with a black stripe, also with a stranded copper core.

I have not worked with the Champion caps before so I cannot comment on how they are terminated to the wires.

[Gareth Brandt]

Were carbon not copper core.

[minidean]

Were carbon not copper core.

Sorry Gareth, are you saying the original 1963 leads were carbon??

[Gareth Brandt]

Were carbon not copper core.

Sorry Gareth, are you saying the original 1963 leads were carbon??

Translates to "carbon" The thing is that there were two types of lead, suppressed ripault lead (black) and suppressed lucas lead (green) both had a copper wire stuck in to the ends of a very soft lead. The high tension lead from the coil to the distributor was in fact copper cored. So, maybe not carbon but some other "flexible and soft" material.

See : viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8874


Gareth

[mellowyellow]

Hi Minidean, there was a thread on this forum not so long a go re this subject. For a 63 car wc548 caps are correct with black 7mm copper core lead. The Carbon leads are the green Lucas type that were used latter I believe. To fit the cable to your caps just cut the outer cable to leave about 10-15 mm of copper core, then tuck it back under the brass fittings and squeeze the fittings onto the cable then fit into the cap, hope that makes sense. Cheers Tim

[ianh1968]

<SNIPPITY SNIP SNIP SNIP>with black 7mm copper core lead.
To fit the cable to your caps just cut the outer cable to leave about 10-15 mm
of copper core, then tuck it back under the brass fittings and squeeze the fittings
onto the cable then fit into the cap

http://www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/V ... p#crimping

They have various bits here, including a crimping tool, but it's not cheap...

I recommended this supplier as they have an excellent range of cable,
both old-style and the later thin-wall type. You can get pretty much any
colour you need, including the correct tracer colour combinations.
You can buy by the metre so you only end up paying for what you need...

I rewired my 1993 Mini using cable and other components from them.

Ian

[Toby]

Here are two examples of original green Lucas leads that were used.



from what I have been able to find, the black and green would both suit a 63 car

[Gareth Brandt]

Hi Minidean, there was a thread on this forum not so long a go re this subject. For a 63 car wc548 caps are correct with black 7mm copper core lead. The Carbon leads are the green Lucas type that were used latter I believe. To fit the cable to your caps just cut the outer cable to leave about 10-15 mm of copper core, then tuck it back under the brass fittings and squeeze the fittings onto the cable then fit into the cap, hope that makes sense. Cheers Tim

Well my two 62s and one 64 Cooper S all have black carbon ripault's lead and only the lead between the coil and dizzy is copper cored. Have mutiple sets of these setups collected over the years

Gareth