41-110 spark plug gaps
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Palmer Alaska
41-110 spark plug gaps
Well, I'm in the process of changing out the plugs and wires using GM performance wires and the GM 41-110 plugs. I believe the gap is supposed to be set at 0.040. When I took them out of their box, two of the plugs looked like the gap was very narrow, even with the naked eye. Sure enough, two of the eight were very narrow with the worst of the two only being 0.013! Hard to take pictures of the issue, but I attached a couple. I can see the gap being off a bit, but that's quite a bit of error. The other six were pretty much right at 0.040. Anyone else ever see this? The boxes (inner and outer) were completely undamaged. Some of the FAQ's I've read on-line state that the gap is pre-set and it is more difficult to gap them due to the brittleness of the metal used. This may sound stupid, but are there any issues re-gapping these, or should I try to get replacements? I purchased them mail order from a forum vendor, but I really don't want to deal with trying to exchange them. If they were regular plugs, I would obviously just gap them, but I've never dealt with Iridium plugs before.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 662
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From: Loxahatchee FL
i just installed the same, looks like they were dropped or something all mine were at .040. when checking the plugs make sure the iridium piece thats welded on the underneath portion of the top 90 degree arm. re-gap if they are there if not take them back for replacements.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Palmer Alaska
Yeah, it seems like they would have been dropped with the gap being that small. I guess I was surprised that the boxes (inner and outer) could have been intact and still have had them get dropped on the business end hard enough to change the gap. I would just try to exchange them, but like I said before I bought them mail order from a forum vendor. Shipping them back from Alaska and waiting for replacements would take too much time. I want to finish the plug change this week. I guess I'll just try to re-gap them and put them in the "easier" to get to cylinders in case I start getting misfires or something. #7 is already done fortunately 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 898
Likes: 25
From: Dallas, TX
I suppose it's a good thing that you checked but I would take them back. I was told, on this forum, that you risk damaging the iridium when you slide the gapping tool in the gap and then bend the contact. that little pad is pretty important, i would just get a new one.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Palmer Alaska
Yeah, well I would obviously prefer to exchange them, but since I'm in Alaska and they are on the east coast it would take awhile to make that happen. Guess I'll try to re-gap them and see what happens. At the local dealers, they are $9 to $10 a piece, so I might just have to eat the extra $$ and buy two of them locally that I can check the gap on at the counter.
