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Bluephrog
Cruiser Addict
Posted: Sep 6, 2006, 6:01 AM
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Spark Plug Gap
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Just replaced my Denso Iridium Spark plugs after 32,000 miles. When I installed them, I had gapped them to .035". Measured them when I took them out and they were at .065". I know that the gap will widen with mileage, but was a little surprised at such a gap change. The plugs are in very good condition otherwise. I changed them out for the new Champion 9403 Iridiums. Why? you ask, well I purchased some of the first Denso's that are about 1/4 of a inch shorter than a standard plug. So, you had to purchase the special wires that were made 1/4 inch longer. Last week I took my PT to have a noisy (for the second time) accessory belt changed and for some reason they tried to take out the #1 spark plug. In that process, they broken the plug wire!!!! Sparkplugs.com wanted $70 for another set of wires!! That made the decision to change the plugs and go with some Taylor wires.
So, for all of you that do your own maintenance, you might want to check your plugs before winter.
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(This post was edited by Bluephrog on Sep 6, 2006, 8:11 AM)
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Posts: 677 | From: Vermont
| Registered: May 24, 2003, 5:25 PM
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sca037
Cruiser Buff
Posted: Sep 6, 2006, 9:37 AM
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Re: [Bluephrog] Spark Plug Gap
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It's always good advice to check your plugs occasionally, since these 'wasted spark' type systems do fire them much more often than the once-per-stroke in cars of yore 
Brian
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5-speed Dream Cruiser S2 #1582 with MP S1 & BOV, Plastic Intake Manifold, rear Eibachs, Supertrapp axle-back exhaust, Crane FireWires & K&N drop-in.
Plastic Chrome AMX TTAB
AGP UCP and H&R Coilovers coming soon.
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Posts: 73 | From: Metro Detroit Area
| Registered: Jan 31, 2006, 9:16 AM
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rszappa1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 7, 2006, 3:11 AM
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Re: [sca037] Spark Plug Gap
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Those Iridiums must be junk . ther is no way they should have worn that much in only 32,000 miles....If that is the case they are a waste of money...
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Posts: 235 | From: louisville, KY
| Registered: Dec 23, 2003, 11:50 PM
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MountainBlue1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 9, 2006, 8:05 PM
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Re: [rszappa1] Spark Plug Gap
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Quote:
Those Iridiums must be junk . ther is no way they should have worn that much in only 32,000 miles....If that is the case they are a waste of money...
Damn dude, don't you ever actually READ the posts. He said he changed them cause the dealership broke his special longer plug wire for the original fit Denso plugs. He said the plugs were fine, just opened up the gap after 32K which is perfectly normal after that many miles.
Sorry to hear they did that to your wires. Iridium plugs rock. I use them in all my cars and trucks. They just work better. I recently put them in my new H3 and it really smoothed out the power band.
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05' GT 5spd
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Posts: 176 | From: Santa Fe, NM
| Registered: Feb 28, 2005, 8:39 PM
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rszappa1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 10, 2006, 1:40 PM
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Re: [MountainBlue1] Spark Plug Gap
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 Dam
Dude...You better read the post again....I assume you can read.....That
is way to much for a gap to increase on any plug with that miles...let
alone an Iridium......A waste of money...
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Posts: 235 | From: louisville, KY
| Registered: Dec 23, 2003, 11:50 PM
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MountainBlue1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 10, 2006, 5:33 PM
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Re: [rszappa1] Spark Plug Gap
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Stock plugs were worse on mine. I changed them out after 5K and they went from the stock .05 to varying between .065 and .07 The high cylinder temps in our turbo enignes cause them to open gap sooner than the n/a.
I don't mind paying an extra $20 for better performing plugs, how cheap are you?
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05' GT 5spd
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Posts: 176 | From: Santa Fe, NM
| Registered: Feb 28, 2005, 8:39 PM
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GT Bruiser
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 10, 2006, 8:39 PM
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Re: [MountainBlue1] Spark Plug Gap
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I agree with you on this one MountainBlue. I have gone through 5 sets of plugs since buying my PT GT. The first four were the factory 440 copper plugs. The gap would blow open after as little as 7-8K miles. The combustion temps are so hot that these things just don't last. I'd try the iridiums but they're not recommended for the GT Turbo.
Now RSZappa1... how often do you suppose plugs are changed in pro street, stock, indy, drag, etc car's? Heat... ya think? No, no... I don't want to get into a pissing contest with you. I'll only say that if you've never tried this simple upgrade, don't be ready to opine regarding it. The best opinions are informed ones, correct?
I finally put in the Champion 3032 Platinums gapped down to .35. These are a great replacement that take the heat better as they run cooler (shorter nose cone). I tried gapping the OEM copper's but there were no known gains nor perceptible advantages and the gap just took longer to open up again. So far, and after only 2 days, performance is up, driveability has improved, and the misfiring is down to a minimum.
If you've read any of my latest posts, you'll know I still need to replace the OEM plug wires. So, I'd say that's a marked improvement. PantSeat DynoMan... me? Nope. But I can tell the difference between a sputtering ride and a torquey drive.
Regards all!
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Intense Blue Pearl... Yeah, Baby! 2003 GT - 5 Speed Getrag - Factory Loaded W/Ghost Flames, Borla Cat Back Dual Exhaust. "I Suck At Electric".
(This post was edited by GT Bruiser on Sep 10, 2006, 9:00 PM)
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Posts: 338 | From: Twin Cities, MN
| Registered: Dec 15, 2004, 3:52 PM
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TomsCruise
Cruiser Buff
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 4:18 AM
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Re: [GT Bruiser] Spark Plug Gap
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When you change out the wires change the plugs to the iridiums and gap them at .028-.032 depending on mods. Be very careful when you gap them and you will see they will last a long time and perform better than any other plug on the market. Now some people will argue with that and that is ok but I have had mine in for 20K with no problems at all. They are a little more expensive and I would use them again, I love the performance and peace of mind. Not a sermon just a thought.
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03 Electric Blue GT 5 Speed
S1, Quaife, Hurst and other
goodies. 14.3 @96.31
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Posts: 59 | From: Chambersburg PA
| Registered: Apr 28, 2006, 7:55 AM
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GT Bruiser
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 8:12 AM
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Re: [TomsCruise] Spark Plug Gap
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Hi again TomsCruise,
I think I'll stick with the current plugset I just installed Saturday. When they are shot, then I'll give the iridiums a try. I'm surprised at the very small gap specs tou suggested. I don't think I've ever run a plug that tight. As a Mopar man and having owned a '68 Charger, a '71 Charger RT, and a '71 RoadRunner (both '71's with 6 packs), I know what plug gapping is about, but man... that's tight.
I'm looking forward to getting the new plugwires, a few extra engine performance toys, and seeing what it'll do. Hopefully next Spring it'll be time to install all the new upgrades I've been hoarding this past year.
Regards!
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Intense Blue Pearl... Yeah, Baby! 2003 GT - 5 Speed Getrag - Factory Loaded W/Ghost Flames, Borla Cat Back Dual Exhaust. "I Suck At Electric".
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Posts: 338 | From: Twin Cities, MN
| Registered: Dec 15, 2004, 3:52 PM
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TomsCruise
Cruiser Buff
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 8:48 AM
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Re: [GT Bruiser] Spark Plug Gap
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A lot depends on the options but if you do a search on this over at PT Crew.com a lot of the guys that race or want the most performance are gapping the iridiums at .028. Rzappa has beentrolling over there at Crew and is about to get thrown off so just ignore him.
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03 Electric Blue GT 5 Speed
S1, Quaife, Hurst and other
goodies. 14.3 @96.31
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Posts: 59 | From: Chambersburg PA
| Registered: Apr 28, 2006, 7:55 AM
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rszappa1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 10:23 AM
Post #11 of 39
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Re: [GT Bruiser] Spark Plug Gap
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 Well first off dude...Do you really put your car in the class that you mentioned????? You got to be kidding right...Second have I tried them...Yes and I have posted about them. I installed the NGK Iriduim and after 8,000 miles I developed a miss above 45 MPH. I installed the stock copper plugs and quess what...It went away...I currently run the NGK V groove plug 4306 and it runs great with no misses. Also no one has still explained to be that it is OK for a Iriduim plug to erroded as fast as his did that started the post....They should not errode anywhere near that...heck my original champion plugs did not widden up anywhere near that and they had 30,000 miles on it. They are not worth the eight dollares you pay for them...give or take a buck....Stock NGK plugs will do just fine....By the way since you mentioned race cars...How many pro stock...funny cars...dragsters and modified are using Iridium plugs....Bet you can count them on one hand with a few fingers left over.....
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Posts: 235 | From: louisville, KY
| Registered: Dec 23, 2003, 11:50 PM
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Bosch
Cruiser Veteran
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 11:59 AM
Post #12 of 39
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Re: [rszappa1] Spark Plug Gap
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Quote:
Well first off dude...Do you really put your car in the class that you mentioned????? You got to be kidding right...Second have I tried them...Yes and I have posted about them. I installed the NGK Iriduim and after 8,000 miles I developed a miss above 45 MPH. I installed the stock copper plugs and quess what...It went away...I currently run the NGK V groove plug 4306 and it runs great with no misses. Also no one has still explained to be that it is OK for a Iriduim plug to erroded as fast as his did that started the post....They should not errode anywhere near that...heck my original champion plugs did not widden up anywhere near that and they had 30,000 miles on it. They are not worth the eight dollares you pay for them...give or take a buck....Stock NGK plugs will do just fine....By the way since you mentioned race cars...How many pro stock...funny cars...dragsters and modified are using Iridium plugs....Bet you can count them on one hand with a few fingers left over.....
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(This post was edited by Bosch on Sep 11, 2006, 12:11 PM)
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Posts: 2040 | From: Northridge, CA
| Registered: Aug 3, 2000, 12:00 AM
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rszappa1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 12:08 PM
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Re: [Bosch] Spark Plug Gap
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 Thats the problem...Im not....You say older...8,000 is older.....Think before you type...
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Posts: 235 | From: louisville, KY
| Registered: Dec 23, 2003, 11:50 PM
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rszappa1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 12:10 PM
Post #14 of 39
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Re: [rszappa1] Spark Plug Gap
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 By the way prove that i am wrong...Who in the racing classes that were mentioned are they using those plugs....NONE...Go the tthe track and see for your self....What are they using...Cooper plugs...mostly Autolite and NGK...
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Posts: 235 | From: louisville, KY
| Registered: Dec 23, 2003, 11:50 PM
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GT Bruiser
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 1:42 PM
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Re: [rszappa1] Spark Plug Gap
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RSZappa1,
Sorry I've raised your hackles so much. I hear they make a calming salve for that.
You're romanticizing muscle cars. First I would like to say that yes... I would make the comparison to the muscle cars of yesteryear. I've owned a total of 4 muscle/supercars from the height of the era. They were fun then, but I was also 25 years younger and was willing to forever be changing out cams, lifters, carbs, intakes, etc.
As far as placing them in a class, today's vehicles are far superior to those muscle cars. I elevate the quality, reliability, power, and torque above those same muscle cars. The power-to-weight ratio of my GT is superior to the Dodges and Plymouths I've owned. Todays' engines & drivetrains are tighter, made of superior alloys and composites, have superior tolerances, and the list goes on, and on.
Without a doubt, 60's & 70's muscle cars had horsepower and gut torque. This simply isn't enough to make them better, faster, or superior to today's vehicles. They were highly prone to breaking down. The higher the performance back then, the more often you were fixing something.
Regarding plug use in racing applications. The majority of racing uses race-specific plugs. Ever hear the phrase "the candle that burns twice as bright lives half as long"? That's a racing plug. Racing plugs are designed for high rpm, punishing thermal loads hotter than a blast furnace and extreme vibration. This makes an everyday auto plug completely impractical for any race designed engine and vice versa for the racing plugs.
Who uses iridium plugs for racing? I don't know who does, but Denso, Nitro and NGK all make iridium plugs for racing. From motorcross to power sports they're available. Millions in research spent developing a product for a task specific product to not be used? That's MicroSoft's domain. Expect to pay $35-$42 per iridium race plug.
Regards!
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Intense Blue Pearl... Yeah, Baby! 2003 GT - 5 Speed Getrag - Factory Loaded W/Ghost Flames, Borla Cat Back Dual Exhaust. "I Suck At Electric".
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Posts: 338 | From: Twin Cities, MN
| Registered: Dec 15, 2004, 3:52 PM
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Bosch
Cruiser Veteran
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 1:46 PM
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Re: [GT Bruiser] Spark Plug Gap
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GT Bruiser, there is nothing you can say to the "r" one that will shut him up.. He makes it his lifes work to make others miserable.. Ignore him and move on..
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Posts: 2040 | From: Northridge, CA
| Registered: Aug 3, 2000, 12:00 AM
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rszappa1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 1:56 PM
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Re: [Bosch] Spark Plug Gap
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You must also be having a hard time to understand it also. Look at the post that brought it up...It was not mine about Pro stock and others it was GT Bruiser....So look again and comment when you get the facts straight.......
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Posts: 235 | From: louisville, KY
| Registered: Dec 23, 2003, 11:50 PM
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Bluephrog
Cruiser Addict
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 2:13 PM
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Re: [GT Bruiser] Spark Plug Gap
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The Owner Manual for my 1963 Dodge Polara 500 with a 383 335HP (dual points) 4 barrel, calls for a spark plug gap of .035. I don't think plug gaps started getting much bigger than .035 till electronic ignition came in the mid 70's
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Posts: 677 | From: Vermont
| Registered: May 24, 2003, 5:25 PM
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Bluephrog
Cruiser Addict
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 2:17 PM
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Re: [Bosch] Spark Plug Gap
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Never said they erroded, they are in perfect condition and could easily go another 30,000 miles.
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Posts: 677 | From: Vermont
| Registered: May 24, 2003, 5:25 PM
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rszappa1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 2:24 PM
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Re: [Bluephrog] Spark Plug Gap
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Did you not say in the first line of you original posy that they increased from 30 to 65?????
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Posts: 235 | From: louisville, KY
| Registered: Dec 23, 2003, 11:50 PM
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Bluephrog
Cruiser Addict
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 2:27 PM
Post #21 of 39
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Re: [MountainBlue1] Spark Plug Gap
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I read somewhere, I think on the Champion site, that you can expect a .0009 gap increase per 1000 miles of driving. Based on that info, my gap was just about normal. My wife's Buick says that I don't need to change the plugs for 100K miles. I'm thinking I should be checking them just to see what has happened in the last 40K miles.
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(This post was edited by Bluephrog on Sep 11, 2006, 3:15 PM)
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Posts: 677 | From: Vermont
| Registered: May 24, 2003, 5:25 PM
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Bluephrog
Cruiser Addict
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 2:36 PM
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Re: [rszappa1] Spark Plug Gap
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Yes, I said the gap increased, regap them and they are ready to go another 30K. There is no errosion of any kind either on the tip or the ground electrode.
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Posts: 677 | From: Vermont
| Registered: May 24, 2003, 5:25 PM
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rszappa1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 2:39 PM
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Re: [Bluephrog] Spark Plug Gap
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that does not make sense...there is no erosion but the gap got bigger......How did it get bigger without erosion then...
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Posts: 235 | From: louisville, KY
| Registered: Dec 23, 2003, 11:50 PM
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rszappa1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 2:41 PM
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Re: [Bluephrog] Spark Plug Gap
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 Hey GT Bruiser....I dont care what you say...Ill take a 1970 Hemi Cuda or a 1968 Hemi Dodge Charger any day over a performance car now....
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Posts: 235 | From: louisville, KY
| Registered: Dec 23, 2003, 11:50 PM
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Bluephrog
Cruiser Addict
Posted: Sep 11, 2006, 2:48 PM
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Re: [rszappa1] Spark Plug Gap
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The action of the spark jumping the gap causes the Ground Electrode to slowly be pushed out. Erosion means that some part of the Tip or Ground electrode is burning away or disappearing. This is NOT the case, the Ground Electrode is being pushed back (about .0009" per 1000 miles) The Iridium and platinum that these plugs are coated with, pretty much stops any "erosion".
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(This post was edited by Bluephrog on Sep 11, 2006, 3:16 PM)
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Posts: 677 | From: Vermont
| Registered: May 24, 2003, 5:25 PM
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