MSD+bigger gap=more power?

[88gtman]

I was wondering if I upgraded my ignitions system with all MSD parts would it then benefit me power wise to increase my gap a little over stock since the MSD should provide me with a more powerful spark. If so, how much gap should I put in the plug?

[Vanquish]

Re: MSD+bigger gap=more power?

The colder the plug the further down you want to go with your gap.

Usually after some mods and switching over to all MSD for ignition coils, plug wires and what not, it's a safe bet I believe to go with a gap of .35.

Though, I would wait for someone else who has switching all of their ignition to MSD to tell you what they gap their plugs to

[camaroman1181]

Re: MSD+bigger gap=more power?

i have a 3.4.. only msd coil's, not the whole dis-4.... i run bosch plug wires and autolite standard plugs... i gap my plugs at .055 and have never seen any misfires due to it. as far as performance... i suppose theoretically, you might gain at max an hp or two... i notice it due to just having fresh plugs and wires in there...

[Shodown]

Re: MSD+bigger gap=more power?

I have MSD 8.5mm wires, MSD Blaster coil packs and NGK TR6 plugs gapped at .035, but I havent noticed any gain.

[Vanquish]

Re: MSD+bigger gap=more power?

Do you find your car starting up better, well easier so to say? Or is there really no point in spending the money on all of the MSD products for ignition?

[Hib Halverson]

Re: MSD+bigger gap=more power?

A bigger plug gap will not increase performance.

What a wider gap can do, in some cases and to only modest effect, is improve idle stability on an engine with a more aggressive, aftermarket camshaft. Understand, however, is this is an incremental effect, ie: if you have a big cam in the engine with a very rough idle, a bigger gap is not going to eliminate that but it might help it a little.

[sharushima]

Re: MSD+bigger gap=more power?

A stronger ignition will help you if you are running high cylinder pressures (high compression, fi, or nitrous) or ragged edge mixtures, when its harder to light the plug. Bigger gap might help with the low end ignition, but strains the ignition system on the high end...and could blow out.

[Arctc Wolf]

Re: MSD+bigger gap=more power?

A large spark plug gap allows for a more efficient combustion of the air/fuel mixture, as long as the spark can jump the gap. This is because there is a bigger area the spark crosses to ignite the mixture. The problem is, the bigger the gap, the more energy is required for the spark to jump that gap because there is more air/fuel mix in between the tip and the electrode. Most spark plugs available only go up to .060" gapping, and ours stock is .055". Once u start modding ur car(making more hp), there is usually more air/fuel mix getting into the cylinders making it more and more difficult to get the spark to jump the stock .055" gap, untill finally u get misfires due to higher cylinder pressures(heads/cam, high compression, turbo/sc boost, nitrous). There are 2 ways of fixing this, upgrade the ignition, or get plugs with smaller gaps. spark plugs are cheaper than ignitions, which is why ppl switch to .035" gap plugs. The tip and electrode are closer together and there is less air/fuel mix in between, making it much easier to light the mixture. The downside to this is because of the narrower gap, less air/fuel is burned initially, causing a less efficient burn.

The more costly route is upgrading ur ignition system. Our cars cam be upgraded with better plug wires, better coils, and the MSD-DIS-4. Most people on this board will tell you the DIS-4 is a waste of money either due to little or no gains, or the box burned up/stopped working. The reason the DIS-4 has shown little or no gains is due to the fact that ppl with nitrous/FI/high compression already swore off the box due to it burning up or just stopped working,and it does little for ppl with bolt-on's because there's no need for that strong of a spark yet(cylinder pressures aren't that high with just bold-on's). The DIS-4 gets pretty hot and needs ample cool air to keep from overheating. The easiest way to describe it is an amplifier for ur ignition system. ppl will make sure regular amps get adequate airflow cuz they don't want it to burn up. The DIS-4 is the same.

For cars with bolt-on's and heads/cam upgrades, wires and coils are all that's needed. If u want to run stock gapped plugs on FI/Nitrous/high comp cars, then give the DIS-4 a try. Remember, keep it out of the engine bay and make sure it can get enough cool air.