Spark arcing off the header and timing problems too
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
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From: Lake Norman NC
Spark arcing off the header and timing problems too
I was playing with the timing today and i look down on the passenger side header tube, the wire to #5 plug was really close to the header, and apparently burned some of the silicone of the wire, and i see an arc from the frade part of the wire to the header. Could this cause any problems? I know i'm getting a new set of wires, thats on the list, but would this have any other impact?
Also, apparently, i got a messed up timing tab, because i tried 36 degrees total...car sucks, tried 38...car sucks...tried 40..getting better...tried 42!!! runs great, no detonation under WOT or any circumstances...I'm thinking my tab isn't right, or something else is fishy..i know the balancer hasn't slipped. what else could it be? Thanks. Herb
Also, apparently, i got a messed up timing tab, because i tried 36 degrees total...car sucks, tried 38...car sucks...tried 40..getting better...tried 42!!! runs great, no detonation under WOT or any circumstances...I'm thinking my tab isn't right, or something else is fishy..i know the balancer hasn't slipped. what else could it be? Thanks. Herb
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
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From: Waterloo ontario Canada
This will definitely cause problems. I had this with cylinders 1 and 3 with my big block. I would head out with 8 cylinders and come home on 6.
Solved it with Jacob ceramic boots on the 2 problem plugs. The ceramic will NOT burn regarldess and is guaranteed for life.
I also run Accel S plugs in these two cylinders for added clearance.
Solved it with Jacob ceramic boots on the 2 problem plugs. The ceramic will NOT burn regarldess and is guaranteed for life.
I also run Accel S plugs in these two cylinders for added clearance.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
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From: Lake Norman NC
I was afraid it was going to cause a miss. It doesn't really feel as if it misses, because idle is rough anyways, and anything after 2000rpm is strong. Would it affect my timing issue?
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by Redshark6974
I was afraid it was going to cause a miss. It doesn't really feel as if it misses, because idle is rough anyways, and anything after 2000rpm is strong. Would it affect my timing issue?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Forked River NJ
Not going to affect your timing but you are not getting full voltage to the plug. You could be getting a miss at high rpm, I had this on a prvious car due to a bad plug wire. You should fix the problem as soon as possible. It should run better firing on all healthy 8 cylinders.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Originally Posted by bobs77vet
i would think it would only affect the timining in that the car may or may not run well at the any particular setting.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 1999
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From: Foxfield CO 1970 Convertible
Originally Posted by Boofers
Yup... When the spark goes from the wire to the header the spark plug either sparks very weakly or not at all.
Plus, the continual spark just makes the hole in the silicone bigger and bigger. In a little while, there won't be any reason for the spark to jump across the gap in the plug when it is more convenient to jump at the header, and the miss will get worse and worse...
