Re: Spark Plug Gap
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Home away from home
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Having the gap a little wide probably won't make any difference. If the ignition is marginal it could make starting a little harder, and the spark could thin out at high speed (90 mph+).
As long as you check them the way you should. If you leave them too long they could wear to the point where the gap is too big to start the car. But that would be after many tens of thousands of miles of wear.
Posted on: 2014/7/20 14:29
|
|||
|
Re: Spark Plug Gap
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Home away from home
![]() ![]() ![]() |
I have never been really clear on the whole resistor wire/ resistor plug/ resistor rotor thing but someone may enlighten us.Is all three togeather bad? Resistance is only to prevent radio interference.(as I understand it)
Opening your plug gap does put increased demand/stresses on your coil, cap, rotor & wires though. The Blue Streak coil is a NAPA brand & if not made in Trashcanistan is a premium piece. Any coil will only produce the amount of Voltage needed to fire your plugs so save your money on the "Thermo-nuclear Holocaust" brand ![]()
Posted on: 2014/7/20 14:53
|
|||
|
Re: Spark Plug Gap
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Forum Ambassador
![]() ![]() ![]() |
For the future you might also consider AutoLite 308, an equivalent to the J-8 in a resistor plug. I use these in all Packards with 14mm plugs from 1932 thru 1954 with excellent results. For possibly faster starting in more stressful situations I would however gap to 0.025".
Posted on: 2014/7/20 14:56
|
|||
|
Re: Spark Plug Gap
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Home away from home
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Quote:
HAH! (I did laugh out loud at that crack. Nice to know that the "Blue Streak" is a good coil. The car has always started like it has electronic ignition with atomic blasters in it. Except for the time I flooded it in cold weather. Whoops. Thanks for the reassurances, Rusty.
Posted on: 2014/7/20 14:57
|
|||
Guy
[b]Not an Expert[/ |
||||
|
Re: Spark Plug Gap
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Home away from home
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Blue Streak was the premium line of ignition products from Standard Ignition. Standard products were sold by most auto supply stores and considered to be good quality products. I don't know if they are still around. NAPA sells products made by Echlin another long-time, old time manufacturer. They are probably produced off shore these days.
I would re-gap the spark plugs to .025" and check to make sure that there are no more resistors in the ignition system (wires, cap, rotor).
Posted on: 2014/7/20 16:52
|
|||
We move toward
And make happen What occupies our mind... (W. Scherer) |
||||
|
Re: Spark Plug Gap
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Home away from home
![]() ![]() ![]() |
JW,
You're right on the gap. I test drove it. Doesn't start right off like it did, and less power and acceleration with the .030 gap. You learn something new every day. The previous plugs were identical, AC 45R, although I doubt if they were made in Mexico, as the current set was. Compression (cylinder pressure) test: varied between 115 and 125. I have all the readings written on the head in pencil and the car is in the garage for now so can't give them cylinder by cylinder here right now. The compression test done the day after an oil change with 6 1/2 quarts of Valvoline 30 wt Conventional and 1/2 qt of MM oil. The car was driven about 15 miles after the oil change. The compression test was done the following day when the engine was almost stone cold. I just started it, backed out of the garage, took the old plugs out, did the compression test, and put new plugs in. I think those are OK compression (cylinder pressure) numbers, but don't know for sure. It doesn't ping, but then I've got 95 octane clear gas in it. I guess variation between high and low cylinder pressure of 10 lbs or less is OK. It comes out to less than 10% variance. (Also, before doing any of this, I did a good ol' fashioned Marvel Mystery Oil "soak and smoke" to try to break up carbon and loosen up rings/valve stems. After that, I drove it about 15 miles and changed the oil.) All the old plugs looked pretty good. Gray ash, no wetness or oil fouling. Thoughts? especially on the cylinder pressure readings, will be appreciated very much. Thanks!
Posted on: 2014/7/20 19:21
|
|||
Guy
[b]Not an Expert[/ |
||||
|
Re: Spark Plug Gap
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Home away from home
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Guy, your compression test numbers look good with less than 10% difference between the highest and lowest cylinders and all with good numbers around 120 lbs. Looks like you have a sound engine. Keep up the good work.
(o{}o)
Posted on: 2014/7/20 21:48
|
|||
We move toward
And make happen What occupies our mind... (W. Scherer) |
||||
|
Re: Spark Plug Gap
|
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Home away from home
![]() ![]() ![]() |
Thanks for your kind words, JW. I re-gapped the plugs at .025, and found that 5 thousandths makes a remarkable difference in starting and "punch."
Posted on: 2014/7/21 16:38
|
|||
Guy
[b]Not an Expert[/ |
||||
|