LesteR723

Hey guys, my father and I bought new spark plugs and when we pulled out the spark plug form the #1 cylinder it looked all smoked. This car has had the original plugs and wires from the previous owner since we bought it, but we haven't put a lot of miles on the car. We were just replacing them as part of a tune up.

Also- we simultaneously figured out what our bucking/bogging/backfire problem is- our # 1 cylinder was switched on the distributor cap. I think that this may have something to do with it.

Please, anyone with suggestions about what the spark plug's condition might say about what's going on in the motor would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Oh by the way- the plugs were gapped to .035" when we pulled them out, but the Chiltons manual said to gap to .044". What do you gap your plugs to?

Also- do the old plugs look to be in good condition? Thanks.

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/46/dsc06512.jpg
http://img541.imageshack.us/img541/963/dsc06515i.jpg
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/551/dsc06516f.jpg
http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3157/dsc06517p.jpg
http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/3927/dsc06514.jpg

Boss_Hotrod

Looks like the plug wasn't tightened down all the way. Should run and sound a lot better now.

LesteR723

Is that the only thing that the black smoked plug could mean? I don't doubt that it wasn't tightened down all the way, especially cause the smoke is past the threads. Do all the other plugs look normal?

Thanks for your input

stanks347

Well with the wire switched your plug was not fireing. So it would look black as in a rich condition. And if it was loose it could have some blow by causing it to look burnt. but those plugs look real old. If you don't have any mods (Boost) on the car I would stick close with the factory specs.

nitrous_bob

well you managed to hide the insulator in 4/5 pics lol

the 1 i saw looked great though

with a .035" gap i'd say the previous owner was spraying fo sho, possibly up to 200, but he used 25's so it doesnt make sense

i gap .042" with a 100 shot, stock is .052"

i use stock coppers

Tims 88GT

Stock coppers will do fine and that plug gap is way tight if your not boosted or spraying.

LesteR723

Thanks for the tips! I will be re-gapping plugs i suppose haha. Yeah I haven't messed with the plugs or wires since I picked it up from the last owner.