I'm planning on doing the famous timing bump soon...ymeski's posts really talked me into it. My question is I've heard that certain plugs react better to the gap and timing bump than others. No one has really covered it in depth though, so I was curious...if I just do a basic bump, what type of plugs should I be replacing my old ones with and gapping? I'm hoping on timing around 13-14 btdc, but that will obviously be determined by driveability. Who has had good luck with what brand/type plugs?

 

if you're using the stock coil use the copper core plugs....

 

Agree with Bowtie, I changed over to the infamous Platinum Plugs on the stock ignition system, which turned out not to be strong enough to fire platinum plugs (same thing happened on my motorcycle, except with Iridium plugs...wasted money)..caused premature fouling.

I don't put anything but the regular copper core (motorcraft for all of my trucks and cars, and on the honda bike...NGK) in my vehicles and motorcycle, with the exception of my wifes 09 Hyundai, which calls for the iridium plugs (and I will put back in for longevity, intake has to be removed to access the last three plugs)

 

X2. You can stretch plats, It even cools em down a bit, but your Coil better have some mojo or your going to miss.

 

Copper it is...with the timing bump to 13-14 BTDC, what gap should I go with?

 

I was planning on pretty much replacing most of the components with the plugs anyhow...coil, distributor, plugs, wires, etc...what kind of coil do you suggest if I were to use platinum plugs? Or would you still suggest sticking with copper? I just don't know how much extra heat with the copper plugs we are talking about.

 

The coppers run cooler. Depends on the rest of the ignition system, mostly your coil voltage. I start out w/ stock gap of .044 and go up incrimentally till I get a miss, then back 2 degrees. Miss = retard again, I run an HV 60K (.45ohm) w/ stock Motorcraft, sidegapped at .054. Just stretched, .056. I pretty sure a 40K would do it, but I've never tried.

 

im about to do the timing bump too and i just bought an msd streetfire coil that runs 48,000v and .44 ohms, and the ford racing 9mm wires, i've got the msd brass cap and rotor button already, what plugs and gap would you reccomend for that

 

i was wondering the same thing, i just put a MSD StreetFire coil, Accel 8mm wires and already had a accel brass cap and rotor, i have autolite coppers right now

 

I'm a stock copper fan. they transfer heat away from the combustion chambers more efficiently than plats, and in fact, are engineered to fail (Motorcrafts) before heating up the point of putting a hole in your piston (Plats will take you right through one if allowed to). Also less likely to produce ping to begin with. Repetitive regapping Plats will also cause them to flake (according to AC/Delco tech) An upgraded ignition w/ 48K low ohm coil shouldn't have a problem with .054. Especially w/ stock coppers. You can try more Incrementally, but come back 2 degrees if you miss under load (or at anytime for that matter). Some people have posted .060. Didn't see it w/ my own eyes. My 60k .45 ohm coil wasn't happy there. I might have been trying it w/ Plats, so long ago, I don't remember! For the last 2 years I've been running the same sidegap Motorcraft stock coppers at .054. Sidegap don't last as long as just stretching the gap. I have 10K on em. I'll post when they eventually crap out. They do have two round trips to Oregon on them. That's 4 -700 non-stop mile legs (both tanks), w/a 1,400 payload @ 80 mph average. That kinda stuff is why I prefer stock coppers. With the stereo blaring, I wouldn't hear a ping till it was too late.