Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2003 07:18:17 -0600
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Correct Gap of Sparks
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
I'm not picking on you Clive when I say this.
Spark plug gaps are recommended. If it says .026 and you are in Iceland
or Antarctic your engine might perform better at .022 plug gaps on the
other end of the spectrum your engine might perform better in Africa with
plugs set at .030.
In a relative to scenario ............... you can run hotter plugs or
colder plugs as well.
With Spark coils named Lightening, Blue Blaze and other sundry, most
would assume that they produce very high voltage. In retrospect they
often are coils in chrome cans or have different colored tops on them.
Just by selecting a coil for another application you can get more voltage
or less voltage to meet your specific need.
You can rest assured that high performance part suppliers aren't
manufacturing spark coils ......... just selecting a coil that will sell
as high performance.
With experience working for Borg Warner I found that high perf clutches
were simply PP and Disk from other applications that happened to fit
another application, the BW high performance distributor caps, rotors,
coils were just stock parts in a different color. The point sets just
added a heavier spring and ventilated points that doubled the 27 cent
manufacturing cost only by going in a chrome box.
Automotive engineers are concerned with passing emissions, getting the
vehicle through the warranty period and least of all keeping maintenance
low (IE timing belts at 65K on Asian vehicles, a $1,400.00 item on a
Lexus, but due at 85K).
Electronic ignitions often give exceptional performance improvements to
older engines simply by overcoming the cam wear by using a disk and
forgetting that the cam even exist.
I tried Petrox, Compufire and Allison ignitions.
The only marked improvement came from the Allison Ignition, If you ask
"Why?".
The Petrox and Compufire merely replace the point set, the Allison
enhances the ignition through their black box. "What's in that black box?
I haven't got a clue." Capacitor discharge? Who knows?
Accurate firing is about all you get with Petrox or Compufire ignition
modules .......... but it is a big help if you got a junk distributor. If
you distributor is very good with good points I doubt you'll see any
improvement with either of them.
New ignitions with multiple coils that trigger from the crank end are a
less expensive manufacturing solution and tie you to the OEM parts
counter so they have another go at you.
If anyone wants to quote about Lucas ignition they just need to have
another sip of their warm beer and remember that they have a Lucas
Refrigerator.
Remember that the parts only perform right with the proper voltage
.......... about 14 volts is a normal range.
If your alternator is weak and your battery is old you might be starving
your Coil at about 11 volts.
Stan Wilder
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