I remember seeing a link some one posted about side gapping plugs but i cant find it again.. basicly i want to know if its true.. does side gapping your plugs help anything??

I got a new set of autolite plugs im putting in sunday so i figured if side gapping really helped anything id do them at night after work I just wanted opinions on it and if anybody know the link to the page posted could you please post it again??

 

I dont do it...on stock stuff it isnt worth that much...you'll see more of an improvement in mileage is you use the Autolite Double Platinum plugs than anything...thats all I use..in racers and everything

EDIT: I should have added you'll want to keep the gap a maximum of .045 on the plugs with a stock ignition system...anything more and you'll be more susceptible to missing...the larger gap does make a hotter spark but with the stock coil it may not have the poop to make it jump 100% of the time...and is hard on the whole system...

 

Well here's the stuff on Side gap. The Dr.'s right about it being problematic when doing it w/ a stock Ignition system (Don't!), so here's also a link re: Ignition upgrade & Timing bumping. Personally, after started w/ the Ignition upgrade/timing bump, then I started incrementally stretching my gap & finally Side Gap. I suggest doing a dry/wet compression check before you get to carried away. I've found that Motorcraft Copper Cores tolerate this stuff the best & are safer for the engine (According to Motorcraft, they're designed to melt before piston/cylinder damage occurs). Check for error codes in your Continuous Memory first also. This stuff is for healthy engines w/ good & balanced compression. If you do this w/ a 200K'er, stock up on Bus Passes!http://fullsizebronco.com/forum/show...ht=timing+bump & http://performanceunlimited.com/docu...degapping.html If you do any of this, Remember the word "Incremental". Your not going to find your Timing degree & Gap "Sweet spots" in one weekend. PING is not your friend! When I did it, it was fun, I took my time and it worked well for me, but always ere on the side of safety (or keep the bus passes handy). Note: If you hate pulling plugs, its stuff may not be that fun. If you just want a "good to go" plug, Autolite 2X Plats as mentioned, or I really like AC/Delco 2X Plat Finewires. they run a little cooler than standard Plats (Motorcraft recently came out w/ their version. Bet they're good too!) If your serious about doing this, let me know as I have some preperatory suggestions, otherwise, I'm a two fingered typer & I'm done.

 

Anyone here index their plugs? Ive heard that makes some difference since the open side of the spark is toward the center of the piston.

 

only good for high rpm racing apps where you dont want the spark to be blown out...which can happen on high compression engine...

on which we just use what we call a Arc welder coil...lol but is a MSD Blaster coil and we cut the ground strap completely off on the plug...

 

"Damn!.....I!....You!..........That!.............. ........................Speechless!"

 

Hmmm well i guess that what i needed to know... so i might as well just put these plugs at regular gap of .44??? and also ill be re doing timing this weekend.. again.. i put it back at 10* BTDC last week end just to see how it ran at factory setting so this weekend ill be bumping it back up to 14 or 16 depending on whether it pings...

 

There is no need to open up the plug gaps larger than factory unless you have upgraded the coil to one that produces a hotter spark. With the hotter spark it is able to jump the larger gap.