FAB60: Even if all your wire caps and spark plug tips are exactly the same, sometimes the boots (caps) don't fit well because the metal clip inside the rubber boot is bent or misaligned. Sometime you have to flex the rubber boot, feeling around until you fell the metal clip centre itself on the plug tip. Or maybe the 'easy' ones have loose clips inside and are not really gripping well. Depending on the spark plug wires you have, you may be able to slide the boot back along the wire to see the clips. Once exposed, you can see how easily they can be bent (some types anyway). They are easy to straighten and carefully crimp a wee bit tighter. Sometimes it is just the boots have slid - the rubber gets stuck to the spark plug and someone pulls on teh wire and not the boot.

Although Triggerboy's truck wires may work fine, if the long extensions are stiff or hard, I'd be leery of accidentally snapping off a spark plug. And the back ends look like they might be close to the bonnet. But it is his Mini. Personally, I like small and tidy.

Sounds like some one has had a problem with your old wires and used a different type of spark plug end. A plug end type that fits deeper,ie. Covers more spark plug. Don't listen to anything t-boy has to say.He locked himself in his garage with his motor running , and now, well, to be kind. He just doesn't know what he is talking about.

well you said you bought a new set of wires and plugs? Just try to push the wire harder until you hear and feel a click, that means that the metal part of the wire has snug tightly with the spark plug terminal. Your plug wires is new and still tight thats why its kinda hard to snug (remember the song "like a virgin" by madonna? go figure) , ok good luck, pls keep us posted.

Wow thanks guys for all the input and knowledge!  One thing I've got to commend about this community is that after all these years there's still those who are there to give a helping hand.  Well like I said before I will get a new set of wires and new plugs.  I do have one last question to ask.  As far as my spark plug wires go, they do not all fit the same on each plug.  One plug will go all the way down the spark plug while others meet half way down.  I try to push the wires furtherest  It can go but seems stop mid way and the other two go all the way down almost covering the entire spark plug!

Well i hate to burst your bubble but you are WRONG AGAIN and John/JEG is right. I have seen a Mini with the stabilizer mount sheared off at the bulkhead complete with a bent HS4 car jet as a result. His complaint was something is banging when i shift gears, the exhaust leaks and the choke is stiff. And yes a juddering clutch and bad sabilizer bushings will give the same result if you only have one engine stabilizer.

Lol,, you have the sharpest memory sir Mal, indeed the rocker cover is bent, but i hammered it back already, not touching the rockers though,  you forgot to mention about the bent carb needle apparently and allegedly brought about by the juddering caused by dirty clutch system. haha! Up to this monent i cant exhaust thinking why jeg said that haha! So funny, aaaanyway, ,,,

Just the spark plug wires tb ? What about the fact the rocker cover is bent from overtightening it not to mention those red things on the cylinder head nuts.

Well a lot of people not only here but also at sundays cars and coffee ridicule my spark plug wires,  look at the pic, they are GM truck spark plug wires, bought them used at swap meet for 2bucks,they are set of old plug wires but still intact. Not a scratch. No issues at all.

..and hey, they are made in USA , no less!! 

aint going to spend $3000 to fix my mini, like some people i know, jizz!!,,, ooops!!!

That is for sure i have done the same and am also using ones from 1960s 6 cylinder Chevys that i mount on the outsde of the dizzy, they are twice the size as the normal ones with no issues so far.

I have replaced a few `near new' condensers recently with 30+ year old s/h Lucas ones.
The Chinese are good at many things, making condensers apparently is not one of them.

And if you have a points distributor check the gap. Also condensers fail and cause issues like yours.

Check for spark leakage from the plug wires as suggested, but DO NOT do it in an enclosed garage. Wait unil dark and do it ONLY in a well ventilated location. Carbon monoxide does kill.

Plug wires, just like anything else deteriorate with age. The insulation dries out and develops micro-cracks that let the current out. Once outside the insulation, the spark travels along the surface of the insulation and can jump to another wire and go to the wrong plug, or just to ground.

10 year old plugs are also supect - the electrodes wear with use and the gap changes. Buy new ones, and don't trust the factory gap - set the gap yourself.

There is a good chance that you have the carbon type wires. When they are old ,they will break up inside when you move them. Ten year old plugs! Give your car a gift and buy some new Champion spark plugs. I have seen old plugs fall apart also.

Cheapo spark plug leads/wires have carbon covered string in them, when old they get gaps in places, the resistance goes up and eventually spark diminishes.
Better leads have an inductive core. Don't have this problem. Bosch is one brand, there are many others.

Yes i installed them back correctly as I did it one at a time.  I will just go ahead and buy a new set of wires since they aren't that expensive.  Ive had the plugs for about 10 yrs now, just never heard of spark plug wires going bad that often.  Another thing I'll check is the cap.  Another thing I noticed was that upon starting the car for the first time after doing the maintaince the cars power just shut off.  The key was in the ignition.  Turned the key to the right, saw the ignition light go on, pulled the choke, fired it up and all of a sudden lost complete power.  I have one of those quick disconnect battery thingys so I double checked that and went back to wiggling and pushing in the s plug wires and power was back on once I tried again.  I hope this helps shed further light instead of confusing you all ??

Did you put them back the right way? Take a look in the engine bay in the pitch black. If you see blue corona or arching you need new wires. They don't last forever. 

Spark plug wires can get worn in time, to check if the plug wires has some cracks or peeling off.  Bring your car inside an enclosed garage, start the engine and turn off the garage light, now with the hood open, rev the car at about 2-3k rpm, if the plug wire is bad, you will see arc-ing light darting all over the place. If thats the case then time to  replace all the old stupid plug wires with new ones.  Check the distributor cap for some cracks too. Replace if needed.

Warning: do this procedure as quick as you can, you dont want to get suffocated with carbon monoxide Inside the garage.  Good luck! 

Product of common sense, Not in the haynes manual....ooops!

check if any plug terminal nuts are loose make sure you hear a "click" sound every time you plug a spark plug wire..

Hey guys so something strange has happened.  After trying to do some maintenance on the car by checking the spark plus and wires, the mini has developed a rough idle.  Car was running fine prior to this.  What I did was take off the spark plugs and also took off the spark plug wires to check for corrosion.  ut everything back thinking everyyhing looks ok and now the cars running like crap.  Very rough low idle, had to raise the idle and it still sounds rough.  Took it around the block and car was popping out the exhaust out of first gear.  Question is could the spark plug wires be at fault?  Maybe the coil?  Stumped!  Thanks in advance for the help!