Making your own HT leads
Discussion
This is not am attempt to be cheap (well, a penny saved blah blah blah 
) but has anyone attempted to make their own HT leads?
A set for my 944 lux will set me back about 60 quid plus vat for beru leads which is about 70 quid give or take.
Now, I recently found this place...
www.vehicle-wiring-products.co.uk/
...because I needed some bits for the westfield and they have components for making your own HT leads so I thought I'd price some up.
3 metres of carbon/silicone lead will do me @ 1.37/m.
I need 4 suppressed plug caps @ 94p ea.
I need 6 connectors and covers for the other end (no idea what size but I'll assume the most expensive combo @ 63p per connector.
That all comes to £11.65 + vat.
Given that my v6 mondeo could use a new set too and they probably cost about the same I'd be saving about
90 quid which would cover me for the top dog crimper tool. Then I can make leads for the fireblade and the westfield and when I eventually get the v8 I want I'll be laughing... etc, etc.
Can anyone tell me if this is a stupid idea? I appreciate it's only pounds we're talking about but it appeals on the basis of fighting back against being ripped off. The time it takes me to make them isn't a factor, I enjoy this kind of stuff and spending an entire day getting grubby in the garage is fun in itself, saving myself 30 quid is a bonus
Mark
) but has anyone attempted to make their own HT leads? A set for my 944 lux will set me back about 60 quid plus vat for beru leads which is about 70 quid give or take.
Now, I recently found this place...
www.vehicle-wiring-products.co.uk/
...because I needed some bits for the westfield and they have components for making your own HT leads so I thought I'd price some up.
3 metres of carbon/silicone lead will do me @ 1.37/m.
I need 4 suppressed plug caps @ 94p ea.
I need 6 connectors and covers for the other end (no idea what size but I'll assume the most expensive combo @ 63p per connector.
That all comes to £11.65 + vat.
Given that my v6 mondeo could use a new set too and they probably cost about the same I'd be saving about
90 quid which would cover me for the top dog crimper tool. Then I can make leads for the fireblade and the westfield and when I eventually get the v8 I want I'll be laughing... etc, etc.
Can anyone tell me if this is a stupid idea? I appreciate it's only pounds we're talking about but it appeals on the basis of fighting back against being ripped off. The time it takes me to make them isn't a factor, I enjoy this kind of stuff and spending an entire day getting grubby in the garage is fun in itself, saving myself 30 quid is a bonus
Mark
Hello again Mark,
Had home made HT leads on a couple of cars many years back (one a Mk 1 Cortina, and the other my Jag engined Pop) but they were basic copper core cable. Found they worked OK apart from the in-line suppressor in the coil lead constantly working loose with subsequent loss of sparks and car grinding to halt. After the 3rd time I threw the little bastard away and had no more problems.
Don't know about the modern carbon silicone stuff though.
Had home made HT leads on a couple of cars many years back (one a Mk 1 Cortina, and the other my Jag engined Pop) but they were basic copper core cable. Found they worked OK apart from the in-line suppressor in the coil lead constantly working loose with subsequent loss of sparks and car grinding to halt. After the 3rd time I threw the little bastard away and had no more problems.
Don't know about the modern carbon silicone stuff though.
Homemade HT leads are fairly simple to do. I had to put new leads on the Chevy 355 fitted to the Ultima. Went to Real Steel in Uxbridge thinking I'd just buy the ready made leads but they gave me a kit instead. The reason behind this is that tuned engines can swap and change plugs, ignition components so you might have non-standard connectors at either end. The solution was a box of HT caps for the plugs, the dizzy and coil.
In the kit is a length of silicon wire, various ends, brass inserts, the special crimp tool and most importantly the pencil sharpner.
Measure the lead length, select the ends, the brass fittings, use WD40 to slide the boots on the cut cable (angled boots require patience) then use the 'pencil sharpner' to prepare the lead ends - this will give a perfectly exposed inner core. Use the crimp tool to attach the brass ends and slide over the boot (using more WD40).
A V8 requires 9 leads and can take a couple of hours but the results are as good as any supplied set.
Dave.
In the kit is a length of silicon wire, various ends, brass inserts, the special crimp tool and most importantly the pencil sharpner.
Measure the lead length, select the ends, the brass fittings, use WD40 to slide the boots on the cut cable (angled boots require patience) then use the 'pencil sharpner' to prepare the lead ends - this will give a perfectly exposed inner core. Use the crimp tool to attach the brass ends and slide over the boot (using more WD40).
A V8 requires 9 leads and can take a couple of hours but the results are as good as any supplied set.
Dave.
I looked into making my own leads for a 928 (Porshce wanted £300+ for a set 
). I was told by one auto factor that home made leads weren't as good as moulded ones at keeping out damp? Especially with modern extra high voltage systems. In the end I got some from Euro Car Spares for £80.
P.S. The ones for my 928 had special plugs at the distributor end...just to be difficult!
). I was told by one auto factor that home made leads weren't as good as moulded ones at keeping out damp? Especially with modern extra high voltage systems. In the end I got some from Euro Car Spares for £80. P.S. The ones for my 928 had special plugs at the distributor end...just to be difficult!
i would definetly make your own!! on my personal race moters i use the 11mm moroso leads from real steel, one end comes booted and you just cut to length the lead and put the cap end on normal crimpers will do, half the price of other after market leads but the main advantage is they look real tidy because you have the right length
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