Spark plug gap with MSD6AL box ? ? ? ? ? ? ? -----------------------------------

[skip68]

I was running my plugs gapped at about 35-36 and it was fine but now what do I do ?   446, 10.25 to 1 compression, MP292/292 .509 cam, Mighty Demon 750, Torker II intake, cast INDY type ported heads, B&M 3000 stall.     NGK V-Power XR5 plugs.    MSD says to open the gap up to 50 or 60.   Should I do this or not ?  Will the wider gap make a weaker spark ?   

[68X426]

Answer: test several gaps to know what works for your unique set up.

I spent the summer running at 48 gap. (Similar configuration to what you have, though it's a Hemi). It's been real smooth and very responsive. Great power, great gas mileage, and nice clean plugs.

This winter I will experiment with 55 and then 60 gap. Guys that I meet at shows say they run up to 60 with great results. The reputation is that the MSD is so hot that we would never lack for a spark under any conditions.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I've run 45 without issue before - but i am by no means an expert on the topic

[Ghoste]

As stated, experiment a little.  MSD says to open them and it's likely more accurate to say you can open them.  Some combos will respond well to a wider gap and some it won't matter much.  In my case, I had them set fairly wide and this year ended up closing them a little.  I still run a little wider than stock gap but closing some from what MSD published seemed to help improve cold starts.

[John_Kunkel]

If you're gonna open the gap up to 50-60 you better have some good wires (8.5-9 mm) or else the spark might decide to jump out of the wire instead of bridging the plug gap.

[vegasmike]

thought you were running those premium champions in there

[skip68]

I put those in as a temp.       You know that coco...  I got another set of ngk's.   They seem to work the best. 

[A383Wing]

I opened my plugs to .050" in the Daytona....never had any issues so far....

[c00nhunterjoe]

i run mine at 50 with no issues

[John_Kunkel]

Pick a moonless really dark night, fire the motor and open the hood. Those with "no issues" might find a really interesting light show. 

[A383Wing]

Nope..no light show in mine....did you check yours? 

[68X426]

I saw only rainbows and Elizabeth Hurley when I opened the hood.

[A383Wing]

 

[skip68]

I think she is burning a little bit on the lean side.        Notice all the white.  

[A383Wing]

I think she is burning a little bit on the lean side.        Notice the all the white.   

I noticed, I noticed... 

[firefighter3931]

Will the wider gap make a weaker spark ?   

Nope, the wider gap will work great with the MSD box. Of course you need good ignition wires so that all of the spark reaches the plug and fires off the mixture. Gap them @ .050 



Ron

[Purple440]

This was a good read:
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinfo/spark_plugs/installation.asp

What you you guys torque your plugs to anyway?  I have just been waiting for my elbow to click, but I probably should be torquing it precisely.

- Doug

[68X426]

I torque to 18-20, never more than 20. It has INDY heads and Champion race plugs so I follow INDY's recommendations. I believe that with iron heads you can go up to 30 pounds, check with the head designer.

[Ghoste]

A little anti-sieze on the threads doesn't hurt either. 

[skip68]

Pick a moonless really dark night, fire the motor and open the hood. Those with "no issues" might find a really interesting light show. 

John, you are right X10...  I looked at mine last night with the lights out, total darkness and was shocked to see little blue glows coming from all over.     At the boot on the plugs, any place the wire was against the block and a few places where the wires touched each other.   It looked like a christmas tree.      This may be a big part of my problem. 
   So, this morning I went to my local speed shop and ordered a new set of Taylor cable 409 10.4 mm big block Dodge wires.        I will be picking them up in the morning with ANOTHER new set of XR5 plugs. 

Thanks for the tip John.   

[firefighter3931]

   So, this morning I went to my local speed shop and ordered a new set of Taylor cable 409 10.4 mm big block Dodge wires.        I will be picking them up in the morning with ANOTHER new set of XR5 plugs. 

Taylor wires ?  Before you install get a multi meter on them and see what you have for resistance. If it's more than 100 ohms/ft return them asap ! I've replaced more than a few sets of Taylors with Firecore 50's. 


Ron

[vegasmike]

Ron, I tried to tell him. He like's to learn the hard way... But I like to learn the hard way tooooo......   

[skip68]

   The next set of wires will be From Ron.   I did gap the plugs at .050 and it seems to be good to go.  These Taylor's work great and will be good for awhile.     I still have some carb problems and need a better distributor but what a difference these wires made.       I do want the Firecore wires though and will get them sometime in the future.          

[BBKNARF]

I had a set of Taylor 409 for 3 years, I noticed it had a slight break down at a higher RPM, whiched I posted. I talked to Ron back and forth about making a few changes on my carb, it made a difference but something was missing. He told me to check the resistance (ohm) on a 1 foot of spark plug wire I'm using, he said it should be approx 50 ohms per foot to get an excellant spark.
He also menioned I should have a bright blue/white spark, after checking I had a orange spark which indicated a poor spark so I checked the ohms and it was over 355 on a 13" wire.
So I ordered a set of Firecore 50 from Ron, after I received them I checked the ohms on a 15" wire it was 60 ohms what a difference but did not get a chance to change them yet not until spring, but will keep you posted.

[68X426]

I was running my plugs gapped at about 35-36 and it was fine but now what do I do ?   446, 10.25 to 1 compression, MP292/292 .509 cam, Mighty Demon 750, Torker II intake, cast INDY type ported heads, B&M 3000 stall.     NGK V-Power XR5 plugs.    MSD says to open the gap up to 50 or 60.   Should I do this or not ?  Will the wider gap make a weaker spark ?   

As a follow-up to a post I made in November, I tested gaps at 50, 55 and 60. I went back to 48 because that is where I got the best overall power response. If anyone is still wondering, it seems that 48 is the sweet spot for my motor using MSD.