Are Plugs Necessary?
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Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7
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Are Plugs Necessary?
Hey Guys,
I am just about ready to add a couple of mods to my 2003 Lightning. I am going with a 4lb pulley, Custom Dyno Tune (Predator), and the "creative" air box mod with K&N filter. The tuner that will be tuning my truck recommends I also do the plugs (NKG Iridium TR7 IX's gapped at .032).
After lurking these boards for a while it seems the better half of everyone with similar mods to myself stay with stock plugs. Is this statement correct? or should I definitely be changing my plugs?
Your input is appreciated!
Thanks
I am just about ready to add a couple of mods to my 2003 Lightning. I am going with a 4lb pulley, Custom Dyno Tune (Predator), and the "creative" air box mod with K&N filter. The tuner that will be tuning my truck recommends I also do the plugs (NKG Iridium TR7 IX's gapped at .032).
After lurking these boards for a while it seems the better half of everyone with similar mods to myself stay with stock plugs. Is this statement correct? or should I definitely be changing my plugs?
Your input is appreciated!
Thanks
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 4,815
Likes: 0
From: Richmond,VA
You can run stock plugs but you wont have the best results. Plus you need to make sure the stock plugs were installed tight. Might as well changes plugs while you do that....
Pay alittle now, or alot later seems to be the trick on to changes plugs or not....
Pay alittle now, or alot later seems to be the trick on to changes plugs or not....
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio
Troyer quote: about a tune and a 4lb pulley concerning plugs.....
I would not do any drag racing or sustained heavy throttle use with the stock plugs now that you have increased cylinder pressure & load that much - though you *could*, I would not. Remember, each full heat range colder in spark plug will pull another 70-110 degrees C out of the combustion chamber - just what you need to keep detonation at bay with higher cylinder pressures & heavy throttle.
I recommend using the Denso Iridium in a heat range of IT-20. It's a better plug than the NGK, or the factory plug, and I would set the gap at .036 - forget the stock 0.42-0.46 factory recommendation, as the stock COP ignition system can't fire that big a gap in high humidity - and sooner or later, you'll run into days with better than 80% humidity, trust me. I lost 7 tenths (added to my ET) on a day with 98% humidity from ignition misfire, just to give you an idea of how bad it can be. Try going from 12.20's on the F1's all the way down to just 12.90's & see how embarrassed you'll be - been there, done that, in front of many people - ouch!
So I suggest (and use) the Denso Iridium IT-20 plugs, gapped @ .036 for best results on the stock ignition - you'll make more power, and make it more reliably - even in high humidity, when any ignition system is straining to cut the ion trail for the spark to follow.
I would not do any drag racing or sustained heavy throttle use with the stock plugs now that you have increased cylinder pressure & load that much - though you *could*, I would not. Remember, each full heat range colder in spark plug will pull another 70-110 degrees C out of the combustion chamber - just what you need to keep detonation at bay with higher cylinder pressures & heavy throttle.
I recommend using the Denso Iridium in a heat range of IT-20. It's a better plug than the NGK, or the factory plug, and I would set the gap at .036 - forget the stock 0.42-0.46 factory recommendation, as the stock COP ignition system can't fire that big a gap in high humidity - and sooner or later, you'll run into days with better than 80% humidity, trust me. I lost 7 tenths (added to my ET) on a day with 98% humidity from ignition misfire, just to give you an idea of how bad it can be. Try going from 12.20's on the F1's all the way down to just 12.90's & see how embarrassed you'll be - been there, done that, in front of many people - ouch!
So I suggest (and use) the Denso Iridium IT-20 plugs, gapped @ .036 for best results on the stock ignition - you'll make more power, and make it more reliably - even in high humidity, when any ignition system is straining to cut the ion trail for the spark to follow.
