spark plugs

[Scorcher2005]

i was thinking of getting some new plug wires and plugs soon. for the wires i chose MSD super conducter 8.5mm. For the spark plugs i was looking at NGK v-power plugs. they come in a variety of sizes and styles and i was wondering which would be best. Also, in my repair manual, it says to coat the plug boot & rotor blade w/ silicone dielectric compound - is that necessary and provide any benefits?

 

[kdog_x]

i was thinking of getting some new plug wires and plugs soon. for the wires i chose MSD super conducter 8.5mm. For the spark plugs i was looking at NGK v-power plugs. they come in a variety of sizes and styles and i was wondering which would be best. Also, in my repair manual, it says to coat the plug boot & rotor blade w/ silicone dielectric compound - is that necessary and provide any benefits?

Yes, the dielectric compound makes a better connection between the two parts. Less resistance = more spark, It won't add 50 HP or anything but for $1 a packet you cant go wrong. As far as finding the better plug, I'll leave that question to someone else.

 

[Silver85TC]

Most people say autolites are the best plugs for our cars. I've heard a few people say good things about NGK as well. Read down a few posts. There is another post about plugs/wires.

 

[90bluegt]

Autolites are way to go. They aren't as fancey as NGK's but they run twice as good in our cars.

 

[Scorcher2005]

well, it seems autolite is the way to go then. they are cheaper too, $1.73 < $2.39 ngk's

 

[Scorcher2005]

hmm, that other price was from a place called crown auto parts. i called autozone and they said they have 3 different ones: the regular resistor plug for $1.29, the platinum for $2.39, and double platinum for $3.39. which should i go with?

 

[Mustang5L5]

hmm, that other price was from a place called crown auto parts. i called autozone and they said they have 3 different ones: the regular resistor plug for $1.29, the platinum for $2.39, and double platinum for $3.39. which should i go with?

Regular resistor = copper plug.

That's what you want.

Just ask for Autolite 25's. Those are the plugs you want. Not AP25's or APP25's, just plain ole 25's

 

[Scorcher2005]

so what are the platinum plugs good for?

 

[Stang8URMPRT]

Platinums are good for longevity, not performance.. My friend put Bosch 4 Platinums in his 500 HP VR4... It detonated to hell.. What a retard. lol

Nick

 

[Mustang5L5]

so what are the platinum plugs good for?

Lincolns and Caddys and people who don't like to spend 1 hour every year or so changing cheap spark plugs.


Platnium plugs were developed for the 100K mile tune up. They are harder and don't wear as easy as coppers.

But copper plugs conduct electricity better, so they are better for performance

 

[Scorcher2005]

are the autolites pregapped to .04-.045"?

 

[Mustang5L5]

are the autolites pregapped to .04-.045"?

No plugs are every pre-gapped. You need to gap them yourself.

And the gap for 87-later 5.0's is 0.052" - 0.056". The pre-87 5.0 has the 0.040" - 0.045" gap.

 

[HISSIN50]

No plugs are every pre-gapped. You need to gap them yourself.

seems true to me. bad part is that one is not supposed to regap plats (rips the coating off), yet every set i get (i run them in some of the DD's), are not gapped even close to right. typical.

 

[Steve491]

No plugs are every pre-gapped. You need to gap them yourself.

And the gap for 87-later 5.0's is 0.052" - 0.056". The pre-87 5.0 has the 0.040" - 0.045" gap.

I know, I know, this thread is 7 years old but now it's back on top.
Most plugs I've installed over the years are fairly close to the correct gap right out of the box. I got a close out price on some AP25 for my 5.0 F-150 and they're gapped about 42-45 right out of the box. My year (1995) needs 52-56. Bending the ground strap up to achieve .054 makes it look wrong.
why did they change the gap in 1997?
Before you tell me that copper plugs would be better for performance, I already know that. I'm not looking for high performance out of this old truck. I've had it for 16 years now and it's time for the last set of plugs I'll ever install.

 

[HISSIN50]

I know, I know, this thread is 7 years old but now it's back on top.
Most plugs I've installed over the years are fairly close to the correct gap right out of the box. I got a close out price on some AP25 for my 5.0 F-150 and they're gapped about 42-45 right out of the box. My year (1995) needs 52-56. Bending the ground strap up to achieve .054 makes it look wrong.
why did they change the gap in 1997?
Before you tell me that copper plugs would be better for performance, I already know that. I'm not looking for high performance out of this old truck. I've had it for 16 years now and it's time for the last set of plugs I'll ever install.

You probably should not be re-gapping them anyhow.

Given the material and fact that performance is not a concern, just leave them where they're at.