[Healeys] Spark plug gap

josef-eckert at t-online.de josef-eckert at t-online.de
Fri May 5 23:19:07 MDT 2023


Chris,
I haven´t wrote we have leaded fuel here in Europe.
 
Josef.
 
 
 
-----Original-Nachricht-----
Betreff: Re: [Healeys] Spark plug gap
Datum: 2023-05-06T02:32:59+0200
Von: "Chris Dimmock" <austin.healey at gmail.com>
An: "Kees Oudesluijs" <coudesluijs at chello.nl>
 
 
 
 
Wow
I’m shocked you still have leaded fuel Josef. 
Because there are a lot more issues than lead. 
But clearly, your 1960’s spark plugs cope with all of them. 
Because lead made a difference. 
But obviously not in Europe 
Sincerely 
Chris. 
Sydney Australia 
 
 

    On 5 May 2023, at 7:49 pm, Kees Oudesluijs via Healeys
    <healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:


    In extreme cases you may burn a hole in your pistons.
    Kees
     
     
    Op 4-5-2023 om 21:58 schreef josef-eckert--- via Healeys:

        Richard,
        Just do what you want. Its your car, your engine, I do not mind.
         
        Josef
         
         
         
        -----Original-Nachricht-----
        Betreff: Re: [Healeys] Spark plug gap
        Datum: 2023-05-04T16:10:56+0200
        Von: "Ricchardd Mayor" <boyracer466 at gmail.com>
        <mailto:boyracer466 at gmail.com>
        An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de" <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> 
        <josef-eckert at t-online.de> <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de>
         
         
         
        On no!  Who knew that gapping your plugs at .032 would ruin your
        engine. Thank you Josef for saving us.  
         
        Richard Mayor
        boyracer466 at gmail.com <mailto:boyracer466 at gmail.com>



            On May 4, 2023, at 4:43 AM, josef-eckert--- via Healeys <
            healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> > wrote:

            Sorry, I am out here. This guy wants to play till the engine is
            shot.
             
             
             
            -----Original-Nachricht-----
            Betreff: RE: [Healeys] Spark plug gap
            Datum: 2023-05-04T12:45:37+0200
            Von: "simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
            <mailto:simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com> " <
            simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
            <mailto:simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com> >
            An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> 
            " <josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> 
            >
             
             
             

            Thanks for that. I’ll certainly bear it in mind. Likewise, I’ll
            keep a close eye on my engine’s temperature. The latter is
            quite well protected with a modern rad, all the correct
            baffles, 5 blade fan plus electronic fan. But, as I said, I’ll
            keep an eye on it.

            Someone mentioned that he used “Iridium” plugs from NGK. I
            googled them….horribly expensive. Can they be worth it in our
            old cars?

            Simon

             

            From: josef-eckert at t-online.de
            <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> <josef-eckert at t-online.de
            <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> >
            Sent: 04 May 2023 07:06
            To: simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
            <mailto:simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com> ; Healey, Forum <
            healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
            Subject: AW: [Healeys] Spark plug gap

             
            For me, i prefer Champion plugs plugs to NGK, but that´s a
            matter of taste. I think both, Champion and NGK, are of similar
            quality. Matter of taste, as I wrote. But NOT the car
            manufacturer determines the plug gap, its the plug
            manufacturer. Definitely the car manufacturer takes this for
            his specs in the workshop manual.
            There is to much hype about plugs anyway. I am working as a
            professional, Elecrtonics and Elecrtrcian engineer, at a big
            classic car parts supplier here in Europe and I never go away
            from the given plug gap as set by the plug manufacturer.
            Austin-Healey engines  are not high tech, they are tractor
            engines and can take a lot of misfit, but anyway BMC knew at
            the time what´s best to do with them, even its printed 60 or 70
            years ago.
            Some people try to adjust the fuel mixture with a CO-tester.
            You can do that, but it doesn´t give best results for road use,
            especially in hotter climates and high above sea level.
            When you are very good in engine engineering and have all the
            tools you can try to find some more horsepower in your engine,
            but you always pay that with some more heat produced, which is
            not at all good for our old BMC engines.
             
            Josef
             
             
             
            -----Original-Nachricht-----
            Betreff: RE: [Healeys] Spark plug gap
            Datum: 2023-05-04T00:06:58+0200
            Von: "simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
            <mailto:simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com> " <
            simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
            <mailto:simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com> >
            An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> 
            " <josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> 
            >
             
             
             

            You may be right. Not sure.

            Actually I thought that the gap was determined by the car’s
            manufacturer ie one could expect to find the same plug in two
            different cars and to find that the recommended gap was not the
            same for each car.

            Likewise, the BMC manual suggests Champion plugs at 0.024” to
            0.026” and that was some 60+ years ago. I’ve always been told
            that Champion plugs aren’t the best in the world and I’m sure
            that a modern NGK can stand a little more heat than the
            Champions that were around 60 years ago.

            Anyhow, I’ll keep an eye on them. I’m a pretty tame driver so
            there won’t be undue stress under the bonnet.

            Simon

             

            From: josef-eckert at t-online.de
            <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> <josef-eckert at t-online.de
            <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> >
            Sent: 03 May 2023 20:56
            To: simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
            <mailto:simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com> ; 
            healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
            Subject: AW: [Healeys] Spark plug gap

             
            Spark plugs are designed and tested to be used with the gap
            given by the producer of the spark plug.
            When you widen the gap the plug gets hotter as it is designed
            for and the electrode can melt or wear very fast.
            Its a very short win you gain modifying them.
            I never understand why people think they are better engineers
            and know better than the designers of the system they use.
             
            Josef
             
             
             
             
            -----Original-Nachricht-----
            Betreff: [Healeys] Spark plug gap
            Datum: 2023-05-03T21:39:57+0200
            Von: "Simon Lachlan via Healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net
            <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
            An: "'Healeys'" <healeys at autox.team.net
            <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
             
             
             

            I run my MkII BT7 on NGK BP6ES which were recommended by some
            of the wise ones on this list.

            The car has a “Sports” coil and a 123Ignition distributor. DW
            fast road cam…etc

            Now, talking of “recommended”, the rolling road guys told me to
            set the plugs at 0.028” and pooh-poohed anything bigger when I
            suggested that I’d heard of much greater gaps with my
            approximate setup.

            So, I went with 0.028.

            The other day, I decided to experiment and set my spare set at
            0.032”. Same NGKs, no mileage on them..decent plugs. Anyhow, it
            made a very surprising difference. All round performance is
            much enhanced.

            Despite it’s 3:54 diff and 28% OD, it was never sluggish on our
            local hills. But now it fairly zooms up them.

            To be frank, all a bit of a surprise.

            Not boasting…just putting that out there in case anyone else is
            thinking of going up a few thou…..

            When I asked about gaps a few years back, some of the
            suggestions were near 0.040”. Surely that a bit much?

            Simon

             
             
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