spark plug gap & distributor shaft end play ???
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
spark plug gap & distributor shaft end play ???
what is the best plug gap for a mildly modified 350 using Bosch Platnum plugs?
also...is the correct dist shaft end play between .003" & .004" ?
also...is the correct dist shaft end play between .003" & .004" ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,330
Likes: 6
From: Long Island NY
Re: spark plug gap & distributor shaft end play ??? (paul67)
My gap is real tight about .002. I would NOT use Platinum plugs in a NON Platinum engine. The heat ranges are off and can cause problems after a few thousand miles.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee Florida
Re: spark plug gap & distributor shaft end play ??? (mvftw)
well...i spoke with Lars about this and he recomended between .003" and .009" on the end play...
checked mine last night and it was .059"!!!
thats almost 1/16"!!!
as far as the plug gap goes...i have always gapped at .045"...
Lars recomended NOT MORE than .040"...
thanx for your input guys!
checked mine last night and it was .059"!!!
thats almost 1/16"!!!
as far as the plug gap goes...i have always gapped at .045"...
Lars recomended NOT MORE than .040"...
thanx for your input guys!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Re: spark plug gap & distributor shaft end play ??? (SIGNGUY)
This is the last distributor I rebuilt. The trim band says it was from a 1969 350/350 but those distributors only have bands for indentification and you can basically make them any year you wish. The bands can be had from Paragon with your choice of identification. The endplay on this unit was 0.035", the HEI before that (for my 1979) was 0.025". I do not know if that slop was built in at factory or it is a result of wear but it does allow for signicant movement of the shaft. I set this one at 0.007" with the shims in Lars' kit, pieces of which you can see in the pic. I currently have a Pertronix Ignitor I in my car (works well) but I will give this points/condensor distributor a try this summer.
I use Delco Rapidfire spark plugs. On the 1979 with HEI I gapped them at 0.045". The recommended gap for a non-HEI car is 0.035". With the Pertronix I compromised at 0.040". The car was running reasonably well when I put it away in November. But I do believe the carb is set a bit rich although the exhaust runs clean albeit smelly without emission controls. This may simply be my ignorance of Holleys and I have to bone up on how those things can be tweaked. Lars has some very informative write-ups on that subject that I will get into.
I toyed with the idea of buying a new/modern Holley 1850/4160 but they are not cheap. The local price is about $350US. So I will be tweaking in May!
I use Delco Rapidfire spark plugs. On the 1979 with HEI I gapped them at 0.045". The recommended gap for a non-HEI car is 0.035". With the Pertronix I compromised at 0.040". The car was running reasonably well when I put it away in November. But I do believe the carb is set a bit rich although the exhaust runs clean albeit smelly without emission controls. This may simply be my ignorance of Holleys and I have to bone up on how those things can be tweaked. Lars has some very informative write-ups on that subject that I will get into.
I toyed with the idea of buying a new/modern Holley 1850/4160 but they are not cheap. The local price is about $350US. So I will be tweaking in May!
