I changed my plugs and wires today, and, wow what a difference! I went with the Autolite Platinums and I used Exact plug wires, because the Autolites had a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty on them and the plug wires had a limited lifetime warranty. My truck runs better now than it ever has, it warms up faster, and it is way more responsive than ever! These are some great plugs!

 

Thanks for the tip on the plugs...

You've got a Vortech supercharger on your wish list - what is it about the Vortech that you like? Have you done much research on them?

Thanks.

 

Pickup Man,

Is Big Stone Gap in the Skyline Drive area. Sounds familiar to me.


I concur on the Autolites. I used some of the Platinum plugs on my 5.0 powered truck. I went with a very large gap as they were being used with an aftermarket ignition (Jacobs). The truck came up to temp much quicker.

Presently I have them out, as I do a lot of experimenting with plugs. I'm going to try them again with a "normal" gap (.060) as the larger gap allowed for some soggy throttle response when the truck was still cold. I am fairly certain this was just a by product of pushing the gap limits.

Now that it's cooling off the Plat's will go back in. They should help mileage in the winter with the quick warm up time.

 

signmaster,
I used a .45 gap on all 8 of mine, I was going to use .54, but for some reason it seemed like a good idea at the time to use.45. Big Stone Gap is in the tip of the state, it's less than 50 miles all the way down to the very tip, one county away, back in the sticks. There's a best-seller book out called Big Stone Gap, it's by a girl who used to live here, and it's a pretty place, but it's a couple of hours away from the Skyline Drive area.
davem,
I haven't really done a lot of research on the Vortech for the F-150, but they have always been really good in everything else, as far as I have heard. I will do some research on them, though.

 

Signmaster---are you just experimenting on 5 liters??Do you do 4.6 or 5.4's...I was wondering so I could save myself some time...I want to gap the 4.6 plugs and was wondering on a starter gap for stock....060 sounds good...

Platnium is the only way to go on these..double at that...

 

Mach 1,

Just the 5.0 for now. Of course if you want to leave your 4.6 with me for a couple of months, I'll be glad to optimize the plug gaps for you! Hey, it's worth a try!

Not sure what the stock ignition would tolerate. Most will go up at least .01 to .015. With a hot coil and good wires probably .02 or so.

With my Jacobs system on my '95 I ran the Platinums at .075! With regular plugs I've gone to .070. In both cases it was pushing the gaps to the point of no further return. I have tried even larger gaps in the past. For some reason the Platinums were real "soggy" until the truck came up to temp some. My truck is always a little cold blooded, but it would stumble more with the Plats. It did generate more heat, and came up to temp MUCH quicker with those plugs in.

In my experience pushing past the point of the diminishing cold performance hasn't resulted in any further gains, at least none that could be noticed. I have seen articles indicating keep going bigger until warm idle quality drops and this is the point of max torque and mileage. Maybe I need to push a little further. After looking at the stock gaps on a 302, pushing to .090 seems like the Grand Canyon!

I think .060 would fly with the new ignitions. Only one way to find out.........

 

FYI: Just be very careful with platinums. It is not advised to regap them once they've been used. The hair thin platinum in the electrode becomes extremely fragile after being subjected to heat, and becomes very easy to damage when regapping.

Take care,
-Chris