Spark Plug wire to shroud - rubber gaskets

Is there a trick to getting the spark plug wire gaskets to seal into the engine shrouds?

Lot'sa silicone grease and persistence.

The original VW jobbies were just an umbrella-looking thing that pressed up against the fan shroud sheetmetal. They worked, but just barely.

Some recent, after-market guys (Taylor comes to mind) mold a hemi-sphere thing under the umbrella with a groove around it to allow the plug hole sheetmetal to "pop" into the groove, thereby making a positive seal.

The trouble is........They're a MAJOR PITA to get them in unless you grease them up first, get the right angle on the cap and persistently push them home.

Now......taking that much trouble to get them in only means that they might take almost as much effort to get them out. Try to angle (pry) them to one side to get the groove to let go and they'll pop out.

You know, not to hijack the thread, my Raby fan shroud makes no accomodation for the spark plugs to have a seal around them.

I wonder if I should maybe look into that.

Thanks Gardon, I was afraid it might be a PITA...With them in position, I suspect that the engine may warm up a little quicker.

try to buy the old original style ive been using them for years, they seal good and are easy to fit in, you might find them at stoddard. bill

Thanks Bill,

I wrestled with these domed shaped buggers for about 45 min.and got 2 in place...Old style sounds good to me.