Simple Spark Plug Tricks

Here's a quick explanation of the do's and don'ts of Indexing and Side Gapping your spark plugs.

[bobsgunk]

I had some NGKs in an old Ford Courier so long the center electrode was worn below the center insulator and they never misfired. I was amazed.

[easygoing]

Uncle Tony, I'm a man with classic tastes. When I saw that this video was freshly posted a few minutes ago, I turned off Beethoven's Sixth Symphony to learn about spark plugs. Went from one genius to another!

[brocluno]

Back in the day, Autolite was the go-to plug because they were built around "Fire-Ring" technology. That was a center electrode with fine splines around the outside which presented a series of "points" for the spark to jump from. So they would light a fire with a somewhat wider gap w/o missing a beat. A wider gap made for a bigger corona and a bigger flame kernel. That made for a more consistent clean ignition all the way up to 6~7K, even though the dwell time was shrinking and the coil(s) was struggling. Autolite have since done away with fire ring plugs (too bad), but they are still very reliable plugs for street engines of any king.
For race motors I generally use fine wire plugs because they start with a very small alloy center electrode that sort of does what the Fire Ring used to do - small point for the spark to jump off of.
The next good "trick" is to make a dedicated ground wire for the distributor body. That current that fired the plug has to return, so the coil must be cleanly connected to the engine block/head and the distributor body/point plate must too. I used #6 wire with crimped and soldered connectors grounded from an extra long condenser screw to a clean bolt on the engine. You will pick up some spark energy with clean ground paths :)

[Poncedrew]

Tony,
Thanks for your tremendous knowledge and energy behind your voice and presentations... But more than anything, your true honesty, & passion behind your videos... I have just acquired a 66 Fairlane GTA big block and along with my 14 yr. old son Drew, we have been learning a great deal from you and your followers. BIG SHOUTOUT TO ALL OF YOU from Los Angeles, CALI!!!

[willarddenton]

Tony, I am 73, years ago I ran a 68 Charge RT, I tried Champion plug's, AC plug's and Autolite. The car ate plug's. My dad had a friend who had a Taxie company and used Molars. So as a young fellow I went down to speak with the older fellow. When it told him my problem, he said son, I only use AGe's Autolite!! Problem solved. Still have the car and used NGK now!!
Willard

[chuckandjenbridges]

Thank you Uncle Tony, I definitely got good knowledge out of this video. I learned a lot, well, relearned it, since as you were teaching, I recalled my Dad saying the same things. I look forward to each of your videos.

[samhicks]

Not to throw dirt in uncle Tony's face by no means, Have done side gapping and indexed the plugs to face toward the Exhaust valve, noticeable idle quality and get up and go! Done on a 361 BB Chrysler. Other notes: Left more of a complete burn of the A/F mixture <Tan colour on the porcelain part of the plug> little to no fouling of any kind aside from oil burning, Pretty good performance for a 'Tired" engine with compression ranging from 119 to 124 across the eight cylinders.

[kaitheramptruckman]

I really appreciate your honesty on knowledge of what you know and what you don’t and how you even say you need to read up on info, im so In love with classics it’s addicting

[staglione]

Uncle Tony... YOU are hard core Mopar and all that it represents. Thank you for passing on your knowledge and cool stories. The hot rod world forever thanks you.

[MikeBrown-iipt]

I've tried them all over the years, even the "gimmick" plugs (Does anyone else remember the Accel U-groove plugs?). These days, I run OEM plugs in my drivers because I've found that they work best. For my performance engines, I stick with NGK. In my experience, I've also found that (except for my roto tiller) Autolite is tops for small engines such as lawn/garden equipment, generators etc. My tiller has a Honda engine and likes NGK plugs.

[brandondobschutz]

Thanks a bunch these vids have been helping me to dial in my hot rods for old school perfection.

[mikehannahs]

I side gapped my plug in my push mower 😂😂 it actually runs better now, starts easier as well

[tnhkzmfreedom]

Tony ever sense you blew away the mixed up Boss I've been a true believer in everything you say!

[The_R-n-I_Guy]

Somebody needs to send David Freiburger a message to see if he can do an Engine Masters test on side gapping plugs. I've never seen anyone do that before

[siulumlion]

Love the UTG adjectives, "Tighten somewhere between cute and gorilla."

[mikew]

Side gapped vs. standard. Sounds like a good test for the Dart.

[Stantonv]

Years ago when I was in tech school a GM engineer gave us a very short talk about parts. I will always remember when he said, "We make parts to fit our cars."

[howabouthetruth]

Just watched this video again, and also just remembered how my late father preferred Autolite plugs. He swore they lasted longer & didn't foul as easily as other brands.

[eddieoutdoors]

I just came across your channel a few days ago and I must say I enjoy your content and subbed you. Thanks for the enjoyable vids! I drive a modern mopar. A 2014 challenger R/T but my love of Mopar’s will always be the classics!

[frankammirati]

Tony please show people how to use that gapping tool, there are so many people who don’t know how use that specific tool, I learned from an old timer when I was in my 40s .