i can't remember who posted this but a while back just before's TSR crashed there was a post about modifiing a sparkplug to fire downward instead of sideways, anyone have this like or know where it was posted?

 

That was me, lemme see if I still have the pictures I made smile.gif

 

cool, i modified my plugs but i forgot what gains you got from it and what the spacing and all that jazz was supposed to be...if you could scrounge that up again, i'd be grateful. So far i've noticed a nicer rev and power curve smile.gif but i'm running pig ritch.

 

Actually, it really doesn't net any power gains on a fairly stock motor. It might help mileage, dunno...

I don't have my original picture, so I whipped this one up in MSPaint


[ November 06, 2002, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: Red ]

 

Benifits of this are?

 

Unshrouding the spark.

In a "normal" spark plug, the spark happens "over" the ground electrode. The "spark" cannot flow "downward" because the ground electrode is in the way, so it must flow sideways and downward, then flow "back" into the center of the combustion chamber.

With the spark happening to the "side" of the plug, the combustion event triggered by the spark is free to flow straight down and out and expand normally.

 

Understandable.

Are the gains/bennifits worth it?

If this is so benificial (in any way even) why hasnt any company jumped on the bandwagon of making a mass produced version?

 

From playing with my turbo motor. yes. much less detonation, ability to run higher temp spark plugs, "perception" of more power. (yet to be dyno proven)

Very good guestion.

I learned of this technique from "modern engine tuning" by A. Graham Bell. From what I understand, it is really only a "race" modification. There is "limited" area for the spark to jump from the center to the side electrode in a side gapped plug. If the side gapped plug becomes fouled, it will not fire, or will fire with a very weak spark. It also might jump directly to the head itself, as it is the next best source of ground. (sort of a long jump)...which means the spark will probably not fire, or will fire somewhere you don't want it to...

A normal "conventional" spark plug has a larger surface area of side electrode for the spark to jump to. If one area is "fouled", the spark can jump 1/8'th of an inch over, or to the "side" of the electrode...etc.etc.. Basically, more surface area means more "room" for the spark to migrate to to find the best spot electrically.

 

So you cut it with a hacksaw or something?

 

Die grinder works good, with a small file to finish it off.

Random has most of it... This "mod" really only applies to modified engines because of the maintenance involved. If you don't keep up on the plugs, they'll go bad quickly and cause worse performance.

But so long as you're on top of it, they should help quite a bit on a well-modified engine.