Was the original color of the Packard spark plug wires used in 72 black or gray? This is for a Lansing built 442 with 455 engine.

 

Black

 

If you're doing a concours restoration then order your spark plug wires from Fusick.

https://www.fusickautomotiveproducts...ts.asp?dept=50

 

Be careful of the Fuscick plug wires. I bought a set for the 54 Olds and they did not work. The car would not start. Man I had a mechanic pissed at me. I called Fusick and told them about them. They did not seem that concerned and just said sent them back.

 

Did not work how? Plug wires either conduct electricity or they don't. That's pretty easy to test with a voltmeter.

 

FWIW, I did have a bad set of sparkplug wires on my 96 recently. I did the filters and plugs. When I disconnected the wires (after 40k + milea) from the plugs, one of the boots separated from the wire. I thought about trying to re-crimp the spark plug end. Unfortunately, all 3 of the sparkplug wires in the back failed that way. Good thing they had lifetime warranty. I just swapped them for new parts store cheapies. I suppose I will replace them with a set from Summit or Jegs eventually.

 

It was before I actually owned the car. It was still in the estate I was executor of. They guy really had no reason to check the plug wires because they were brand new. He took them out of the box and put them on the car. It should have been safe to assume they were good. I know I would have made the same assumption. Would you?

 

Well, apparently whoever did that assumed they were not good, since they returned them. My point is that there are a bunch of problems that could cause no-start, including getting the firing order wrong. In any case, if I had a no-start after installing new wires, the ohmmeter would be one of the first tools I pulled out.

 

Was the distributor cap and rotor replaced at the same time as the wire set?