Spark Plugs

[xgap]

What plugs and gap should be used in a 86 daily driver. Thanks.

[Gator]

Motorcraft 32C's.....gapped at 35.

Never had good luck with anything else. And stay away from platnium plugs for these cars. They somply dont like em'

[svono50]

Just to throw in my $0.02 . . . Motorcraft are good, I also recommend Autolite plugs as well. I can get Autolites cheaper than Motorcraft anyway. I gap my plugs a wee bit tighter at 0.030" to prevent any issues with bad gas or too much boost.

[CarGuy]

Any thoughts on the split-fire plugs?

[SVOeric]

Originally posted by CarGuy
Any thoughts on the split-fire plugs?

yea 2
-- GIMIC
and
-- RUN AWAY

[CarGuy]

SVOEric,
What's the gimic? I've always heard good and bad opinions - now that I'm trying to squeeze every bit of performance out of this 4-cyl, I'd really like to know what the story is. How about the V-power NGKs?

Also, Why do I need to run away? Is more spark a bad thing for this application? Any details would be appreciated.

Thanks

[richsvo]

CarGuy,

I think what Eric is trying to say...in kinder (or different) words is that these cars don't like those plugs, or any others for that matter. Motorcraft and Autolite are about the only two that you will get your money's worth for...I think as far as those"other" plugs go...I smell a scam! (gimic..or gimmick..see scam...?)

Rich

[SVOeric]

rich hit most of what I was saying...

take a set of plugs that have 30,000 miles on them out of any car, and put in a new set, and WHA-LA 10 extra HP (at least) ---

Remember -- you are not getting MORE spark -- just (a chance) at 2 sparks @ 1/2 the power each --
once these plugs have a few miles on them, it is pretty common to see them only arc to one spot on the "split" just like a standard plug...

The other thing, Rich hit on, our cars are pretty picky when it comes to plugs --

If the split fires are good, then the bosch +4's must be awesome ???????

The 2 plugs that I have used with good results are NKG's and Motorcrafts.

[CarGuy]

Thanks for the info - I appreciate it I've always used NGKs and have been satisfied. But sense I only have to replace 4, instead of the usual 6 or 8 - I wouldn't mind spending a little extra on a better performing plug (if one exists of course).

[NY eric]

Platinum plugs rot

I figured that I would ad to this old string because I just went through this and i should have listened to Gator.

Scenario. I just put the motor together and I have been fighting with what I thought was a timing issue. The car would run hard untill 7k. If I pulled more than 13psi it would start pulling out the timing. I had AC delco platinum plugs, Taylor wires, and a borg cap and rotor. I just replaced with the motorcraft stuff and didnt change any other setings and now I can plull clean to 7k with 22 PSI. This motor has realy woken up. I guess there is somethig to say about the motorcraft stuff.

[SVOeric]

no wonder it wouldn't run,

Dat there is dem chevy plugs

[140cilx]

Just thought I'd post the specific number since I needed to dig them up to go get some for both cars:

AWSF32C Motorcraft.
AWSF22C One heat range colder. I've been using the 22c's in my '84 SVO and 20 lbs boost and it's done really well.

[NY eric]

heat range?

OK I will prove my ignorance one again. what does the different heat ranges mean or do?

[KevinK]

plugs

I put split fires in my 84 quite a while ago. I don't have any dyno data before but it did run better than ever for quite a while. I also put in a new clutch and plug wires. Unfortuantely that was with 94 octane and I don't put many miles on my car. These days, I do have some issue going on under boost. Now you guys have me thinking it would be a good time to go back to the stock plugs.

As Bud pointed out a while ago, it's hard to get much performance increase when you only have 4 plugs vs 8. Not many split fire supporters at this site.

Motorcraft plugs have been know for years to last longer. The only exception is some of the newer high tech plugs.

[Ken Potter]

In my 5.0

I tried some in my LX / Cobra clone and wasn't that impressed. I have never used anything but Motorcraft plugs, wires, belts, etc. in my 2R as I want to keep it as original as possible.