To help save you guys from undue heart ache...


(FYI) Any tinkering (except normal maintenance) with the ignition system on a naturally asperated LS based engine is a total waste of money. More juice through the electrodes on the plugs is only needed and worth it when it's in a higher than normal compression environment, since the air acts as an insulator. (I used to run aircraft plugs through testers alot)

Another thing about plugs that is raping the population, (and I think a law suit should be brought up) is that no matter how many electrodes there are, the arc only uses ONE at a time. This goes back to the WWII aviation spark plugs that first used this fail safe design of 2, 3, and 4 ground electrodes. It was implemented incase one of the ground electrodes broke off in flight. That way they still had an operational cylinder... The EL cheapo plugs work just as good and are re-gappable.

 

Do you have one of those old-time spark plug cleaning/testing machines? I would like to see the firing of a multiple ground electrode plug on one of those.

 

When I used to sell auto parts while in college we were slow one day so I took a head and tried out about 8 different spark plugs by using a battery and an HEI distributer that I pulled off the shelf and of corse some plug wires. With AC rapid fires, split fire, and NGK RX7 3 prong electrode plugs I did notice a difference in the spark. The really big difference was with the NGK 3 progongs. (these were the same dimensions to use in early BBC heads and some aftermarket SBC heads like I ran) Yes, there is only one arch thrown with all plugs, but there was a very noticable blue glow that would extend to all the electrodes. I would think that the glow may help in combustion. Also the spark would not always strike the same electrode. But with the NGK 3 prongs I did notice a littke more intense spark. On the other hand, if you gave me a set of bosche platinums of any type I would not install them in anything that I own. Not even my lawn mower. That is another subject though. Just for the record. I never noticed any difference at the track with different plugs.

 

The old maintenance base out here I used to work at owned the machine. You can still buy them though. For our purposes here, The cost would be outweighed by simply spending $10 on some new plugs. We used that machine because a new plug was $50 at the time, also FAA guidlines mandated the test.

Mark

 

I wouldn't think you ever will notice any gains, but the non adjustable platinum plugs might cause the ionization of the air around it to act differently. Remember that electricity will take the path of least resistance, so that will account for firing on a different ground electrode as the one previously fired on may have changed its resistance. Still, I would find something else to put my money on.

One other thing, Those multi ground electrod plugs are flimsy compared to the aviation plugs we used, so if they are not "perfectly fused" to the plug, they can break off, causing that little piece of metal to end up getting beat around in your cylinder and possibly dammaging the valve and seat if caught there.

Hope that helps...
Mark

 

MJHoward

HOw did that 30 degrees of timing last? J/K

 

I think it's important to mention that there is a difference in 'el cheapo' plugs and a good quality plug. While the multi pronged plugs are usually junk as well as the famed Bosch Platinums, that's not to say they are all the same by any stretch!

A good quality plug will always run better than the el cheapo.

 

I agree......AC Delco 41-901 Iridium plugs for me baby!

 

I agree there is a difference in quality. I meant by the el cheapo's as being the regular flat tip single ground electrode style.

 

It lasted damn well for about 2 months of giving it hell! I never expected it to last as long as it did. That is why I have been bragging about it. If I was really concerned I would have just gotten some bragging #'s on the dyno then backed it off a few degrees for everyday use. At least I ran what I dyno'd and wasn't a Poser.
The stock 5 speed and stock clutch is still holding just fine. Even launching with slicks.