I did several searches and didn't find much. Can anyone jump in and recommend proper gaps for plats. Running a 383 w/MSD 6AL. Trying the Autolites as I've had good luck with them in the past, although not plats. Thanks...Randy

 

After you throw the 6AL in the dumpster, try gapping your plugs to .040

 

[QUOTE=gkull]After you throw the 6AL in the dumpster,

And why would that be? Have I missed something?

 

Would you go buy a black and white TV?

Anolog technology from a 20 year old design still being sold. Phoney plug in rpm moduals witha a big + or - value on what rpm it really turns on. Random misfire - so one cylinder could load up with gas and then fire again, blowing your motor apart.

Real racers moved into the digital age long ago

 

I dont understand this response, What do you suggest firstimer do go back to points? or change to a different Electronic ignition? I am curious because I am using an MSD6A and a pertronix ignition set up an it kicks you-know-what.

 

 

I'm confused myself. I've been out of the 'hotrod'/'muscle car' scene since the late '60's early'70's when a Mallory dual-point distributor was the hot set-up. I bought this car with this motor in it, built in the late '90's, and thought it was kinda the lastest equipment goin' on. Now, sounds like I have a dinosaur set-up that's gonna blow my engine up. I wonder how many documented instances there are of this happening.

 

I replaced my dual points with the Pertronix unit bu tI couldnt tell you how much better it is because I installed the MSD 6A at the same time. Together they are MUCH better than just dual points but you probably could have guessed that on your own. I mention this because Pertronix specs the .040 gap for any plug used with their units. Also I have been told to try indexing the plugs but its too time consuming on the BB with AC to try to get them all the same for a 2 hp gain.

 

Don, Thanks for the replys and info. Funny how I started this thread simply to find plug gaps and ................................

oh well, Semper Fi!

 

I did buy a 6AL back in the late 80's or so. It died within a short period of time because I mounted it in a very hot engine compartment. It left me stranded because it didn't say "Mount in a cool Dry space". The second one was still running when I was at a race tech station getting inspected. That's when I heard that they were junk and everybody was removing them. I had a Mallory Unilite with vac. My car ran just as good without it. I was using the MSD more for its rev limiter.

The random misfire just has to bad for a motor. My motor would shake and buck and big backfires out the pipes. That can't be good for a over revving motor.

I've since went to the Digital Crane. What a sweet setup! dials for the rpm and I can just floor the car into the rev limiter and it makes a tattling sound, but the motor is so smooth you can drive it like that. It's "Sequential misfire" I set a low RPM for the line lock burn out and just floor the car.

Out road racing I'm not the only guy out there that you hear driving the car into the rev limiter and just keeping it there. You don't always want to be shifting just before the brake zone for a turn. It's easier to just drive the car on the floor into the rev limiter and then brake because you don't upset the balance of the car.

I would never drive a motor that I cared about with some old random misfire unit.

I also don't believe that Multi Spark really does much of anything. If you have a well tuned motor with the latest chamber designs. My motors always fire right up and run nice. I've even just removed my Digital Crane which only takes 30 seconds or so and my my car still runs fine. MSD only works till 3000 rpm anyway.

I also threw away my last dual point dist in the early 70's when the first HEI's came out. Points and water left me stranded to many times when I was first driving.

 

I think people are just being polite and not telling you that 1)platinum plugs are a waste of money (no better than the 2 buck AC Delcos and 2) playing with plug gaps make no difference in performance.

Whoops, that's not polite of me, sorry.

 

Aren't platinum plugs bad for nitrous, too?

 

your brother had it right.........whether 40 or 60, the plug will fire because you have the 6al, great iginition...the wider the gap the bigger the flame..but the wider the gap the more resistence to the wires/cap, etc.....if your into nitrous go for the big gap, but otherwise set it where it feels good and forget it...enjoy!!!

Oh, platnum is better, just think about it..technology, last longer, does`t foul after 20k miles, etc........