Anyone "cut-back" their Rapidfires?

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Feb 3, 2003 | 04:20 PM

FlyboyZR1

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Anyone "cut-back" their Rapidfires?

I'm not sure how far to cut-back the electrode on the Rapidfires. The center electrode looks like a pyramid, and has a slight taper to it. Anyone got pics? Maybe since people have had luck cutting back regular Delco's, I'll do those instead.

[Modified by FlyboyZR1, 3:34 PM 2/3/2003]

Feb 3, 2003 | 09:04 PM

nobodyunknown

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Re: Anyone "cut-back" their Rapidfires? (FlyboyZR1)

On regular plugs you cut back to even with the center of the electrode.I did it to my 84 & it has'nt fouled a plug sence.It was fouling every month or so.

Feb 3, 2003 | 09:07 PM

scorp508

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From: Boston, MA

I cut mine back and gained an average of 1mph and 0.1 off of my ET.

Feb 3, 2003 | 10:12 PM

NoWorries

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Re: Anyone "cut-back" their Rapidfires? (FlyboyZR1)

I thought even looking at the Rapidfires cross-eyed was forbidden.

I remember reading that the Rapidfires are absolutely not to be modified, not even regapped. Grinding on them sounds like a bad idea.

I've ground down some Nikon(I think thats their name, Honda plugs) and I'm about to do my AC Delco FR3LS 's tonight for the Vette. You pretty much take the end so that its just about in the middle, and round off the corners really smooth.

I'll try to get some pictures when I do the first one. :seeya

Feb 3, 2003 | 10:20 PM

FlyboyZR1

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Re: Anyone "cut-back" their Rapidfires? (NoWorries)

Quote:

You pretty much take the end so that its just about in the middle, and round off the corners really smooth.

I originally thought you cut it back to the very edge of the center electrode, not to the middle. Check out: http://www.geocities.com/jgkov/CutPlugs.html

HMMMMM......

Feb 3, 2003 | 10:25 PM

MrNuke

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From: Shelton CT

Re: Anyone "cut-back" their Rapidfires? (FlyboyZR1)

Quote:

You pretty much take the end so that its just about in the middle, and round off the corners really smooth.

I originally thought you cut it back to the very edge of the center electrode, not to the middle. Check out: http://www.geocities.com/jgkov/CutPlugs.html

HMMMMM......

Yes you are supposed to only cut them back to the edge of the electrode.
Basically removing the metal that hangs over the elctrode about 1/8th of an inch or slightly less. Cut back too much, and you are screwing with your spark, and if you have a stock or bad ignition you might be worse off, as that would create too large of a gap that you wouldn't want..

Feb 3, 2003 | 10:33 PM

scorp508

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Quote:

Cut back too much, and you are screwing with your spark, and if you have a stock or bad ignition you might be worse off, as that would create too large of a gap that you wouldn't want..

Not as long as you remember to re-gap them.

Feb 3, 2003 | 10:49 PM

NoWorries

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Re: Anyone "cut-back" their Rapidfires? (FlyboyZR1)

I couldn't remember the official name of the electrode, that spark plug picture is about how mine look for the length, although I don't quite go that far, only about to the center.

What I do do, that's not in that picture, is to round off the tip of the electrode nice and smooth...I don't know if it does anything or not, but it makes sense to me not to have any edges. In my mind, you'd get a better spark distribution with a clean tip.