[6pack] Spark plug gap with electronic ignition

[Sally or Dick Taylor]

Bill---Certain electronic ignitions, as in the Capacitive Discharge kind, can amp up the spark quite a bit. This can produce a  hotter spark at the plug, and lends itself to allowing for a larger gap. A bigger, hotter spark is good when the combustion process has to deal with non-stock  conditions, such as higher compressions and cold starting temperatures. The other favorable thing I found with mine is that sparkplugs last a looong time, as they don't foul out as before. The points also last much longer, as arcing is kept to a minimum with the CD unit.
Some (all?) CD units also control dwell time, which we know helps the coil recovery when engine revs are really high.

But...can one notice a difference with the larger gap? Only if your engine now can't go 50,000 miles on its plugs and points. One probably won't feel the difference in the seat-of-the-pants, unless your stock system is/was misfiring.

It should only take one spark to fire the air/fuel mix. Once the mix ignites, then having a hotter than original spark won't make any difference. So far as better fuel economy, the only way this would show up would be if you were to also lean out the fuel mix (which a hotter spark is more capable of firing). Otherwise, unless you were wasting fuel from misfiring, there's no reason to believe this hotter spark would help fuel mileage.

To answer the other part of your question about the wider gap, you can try .035. 

Dick


-----Original Message-----
From: Couzelis,William M.
Sent: Thursday, October 1, 2009 9:25 AM
To: 6pack at autox.team.net
Subject: [6pack] Spark plug gap with electronic ignition

Hi All,
I recently installed an electronic ignition with a "Flame Thrower" coil
(40,000 volts) in my '71 TR-6.  The coil advertises "the higher voltage
allows larger spark plug gaps for added power, smoother response and
better fuel economy".  Has anyone tried a larger plug gap then the
recommended 0.025"?  If so, what gap and did you notice any difference?
Thanks,

Bill


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