Spark plug gap - simple discussion

[Abaddon]

Ok, I've read tons of threads about spark plug gaps and now I'm confused. Here's what I've been able to gather so far:

Stock plug gap is .060
Many people like copper instead of iridium or platinum/double platinum
Platinum is a bad idea for boosted cars

Well here's my question. I bought the copper plugs but I'm not sure what gap I should use. I don't have (and don't want) nitrous but is the stock gap still ok? Here are the mods I've made to my car and want to see what change to the gap (if any?) is necessary/desireable:

2000 V6 Camaro with:
Walbro high-flow fuel pump
Pacesetter headers and Magnaflow 3" exhaust
K&N Gen2 intake

So the car uses more gas and takes in more air. Does this affect the gap? Should I go with a .055 gap? Wider? Sorry if this has been covered but I refuse to do this project a third time. I had no luck with the iridiums!

[nascar24jd]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

Stock Gap.

[Abaddon]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

So you're saying gap the copper plugs to .060 and be done with it? I like the sound of that. It'll be nice to get my baby back on the road in time for spring!

[Bandit127]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

So, on the spark plug gap idea.

What's is the mission behind narrowing the spark plug gap beyond factory?

[cam98aro]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

So, on the spark plug gap idea.

What's is the mission behind narrowing the spark plug gap beyond factory?

gapping plugs is almost useless today as most engines use coil packs and not distributors.

the engines will operate fine on a huge difference of gaps.

basically to make it simple, the smaller the gap is, the better the plug works in high rpm situations, and wont misfire, the larger the gap is, the better it will burn the fuel in the combustion chamber, but you run the risk of a misfire, especially at higher rpms because of the loss of spark having to travel from the coil to the distributor, then from the distrib. down to the plug.

with todays coils, its basically a straight shot.

IMO gapping plugs is more of a thing needed for high performance engines, and not a stock engine, but none the less, i still check the gap :cool:

[Abaddon]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

I'm mostly trying to get a poll of what gap people use in what situations. I know I'm throwing more fuel and air at the engine now and I've never used copper plugs in my car before so it never hurts to find out what other people are using before putting plugs in. I put iridiums in the car before and it ran like crap so I scrapped the plugs and the wires. I don't want to have to go through this process again.

[ssms5411]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

Over the years I have found and also many other members NGK plugs run very well in our cars N/A , nitrous, supercharger and turbo. For N/A including cammed NGK TR55's and can leave them pre-gapped at .055 but always double check the gap before installing, then for nitrous and FI NGK TR6's pre-gapped at .035 and running alot of boost NGK TR7's same .035. All copper plugs nothing fancy and it works great.

[Abaddon]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

That helps a lot. I'm going to go with the advice of most and gap the copper plugs to .055 and put them in! I hope to be driving (and thru emissions testing) by tomorrow. Woohoo! Can't wait to take the t-tops off.

[matt3989]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

correct me if I'm wrong, but simply bolting on an intake and a high flow fuel pump won't make the car put anymore fuel into the cylinder, it will just bring colder air in and deliver fuel/air better under high loads.

In order to get more fuel in you would need different injectors/a tune, or a cam for more air. (again, I'm sure there are people on this board who know better than I do, so correct me if I'm wrong)

IMO if you're playing around with the gap, you should use better wires/coil packs and make the gap wider to get a better burn.

[cam98aro]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

correct me if I'm wrong, but simply bolting on an intake and a high flow fuel pump won't make the car put anymore fuel into the cylinder, it will just bring colder air in and deliver fuel/air better under high loads.

In order to get more fuel in you would need different injectors/a tune, or a cam for more air. (again, I'm sure there are people on this board who know better than I do, so correct me if I'm wrong)

IMO if you're playing around with the gap, you should use better wires/coil packs and make the gap wider to get a better burn.

putting aftermarket intakes on will let more air into the engine because they are less restrictive, more air going into the engine means more fuel will also go in

also colder air is more sense than warm air, so more air will be going into the engine, which will also add more fuel, whish is basically that the IAT sensor does

computer controlled fuel injected engines can meter the amount of fuel that goes into the engine for different driving styles by what the o2 sensor tells it, and also adds more fuel during start up since an engine needs to run richer when it is colder

from what i see, the stock coil packs are pleanty for most engine mods that cam be done the the v6's

[Abaddon]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

This is why I wanted a thread like this one! This is good stuff. The question now is whether the stock gap is sufficient for these types of bolt-on cars? I'm doing mine at .055 to see if it'll work the way I want at high RPMs. I would be done but with the headers, I broke ANOTHER spark plug! The middle on the passenger side SUCKS! I ordered 4 more plugs in case I break another one...or two... :)

[Bird_Of_Prey]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

What are you doing wrong? Plugs on a 3.8 with headers should take under 10 mins, total.

[Abaddon]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

Not on the passenger side in the middle. I've broken that same spark plug four times! The socket just doesn't fit on it straight. I've ordered a few extras and I plan to use a wrench to tighten it down instead of that #### socket this time! I took it to the mechanic (because it was missing and I didn't realize it was broken) and he put a new plug in there...and his was broken, too! I ended up having to replace the one he put in there. Heh!

[LETZRIDE]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

either cut the socket down some, or get an opened ended wrench and use that (the closed end of it)...if you try to use a socket it will either A) get stuck on there and brake the plug coming out, or B) brake the plug coming out lol....

[Abaddon]

Re: Spark plug gap - simple discussion

Noted. The other plugs are a breeze to swap out.