<VV> Spark plug gaps

[Harry Yarnell]

I think greater gap is great in principle, however you need the 'punch' to 
span that gap. Not sure if the Kettering ignition is up to greater gaps.

harry yarnell
perryman garage and orphanage
hyarnell1 at earthlink.net
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <FrankCB at aol.com>
To: <tonyu at roava.net>; <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 5:19 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Spark plug gaps


>
> Tony,
>    I certainly agree with what you recommend assuming  it's for a STOCK
> ignition system.  However, I SUSPECT (but I'm not sure)  that a GREATER 
> gap would
> be better for engine operation IF the system were  changed to an 
> electronic
> ignition that can supply much higher voltage to the  plugs.  I seem to 
> remember
> that modern electronic systems in modern cars  use a significantly GREATER 
> gap
> (like 0.060 inch).  When I  changed the plugs in my 1966 Monza (with
> electronic ignition) many years ago  after high mileage the gap had 
> increased so much
> that none of my gap  measuring tools could measure it.  The center 
> electrodes
> were worn  (eroded?) down to level with the ceramic insulation surrounding
> them.  And  the engine was STILL firing just fine - I was doing it for
> "preventive  maintenance"
>    But does anybody have any EVIDENCE either agreeing  or DISagreeing with
> my suspicion that our engines would work better with a  greater gap?
>    Frank "questioningly" Burkhard
>
> In a message dated 9/19/2007 12:27:44 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> tonyu at roava.net writes:
>
> This is  how the engineers at GM found the engine to do its best work,
> via tests  etc. thus their findings that .03 seems to work best
> over-all.
>
>
>>However, NGK, AC and Autolite all recommend  .035
>
>
> Recommend.   They don't actually know what the plugs  are going into.
>
>
>>for their plugs, but Bosch says .030.  So  what do folk normally use,
>>and what do you think works best?  The  motor is a 110 with stock
>>points/condensor/coil  ignition.
>
>
> You won't go wrong with the factory recommendations on  plug gap
> etc.   After all, it's their engine design and their  findings from
> their R&D people.   The plugs are pretty much  a standard in that they
> all do the same thing and the gap setting is in  response to the
> conditions inside the combustion chamber, ignition source,  mixture,
> timing, etc.
>
> tony..
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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