[TPR] Spark plug eval - 2013: pre-SSCC
Asa Jay Laughton
asajay at asajay.com
Sat Jul 6 08:54:30 PDT 2013
David,
You echo pretty much what Dick Drenske had told me last year. The plugs
need to be pulled immediately after a race run.
Yes, I've put more miles on it since last year and it may be they are a
bit cleaner because I didn't pull them right after a long high rpm run.
I tried to get good close-up photos, but even in macro mode I had
trouble, probably with camera shake. What I was looking for (and using
a magnifying glass to do so) was any deterioration around the center
electrode and ground electrode, as well as debris of any sort on the
insulator. All the plugs look "used" in that they all have a
less-than-paper-thin buildup on the ground electrode; the center
electrode is still well defined and you can see where it's been firing
against the ground electrode. The insulators looked pretty clean with
just a hint of carbon soot on one side.
I was mostly afraid of seeing something like I did last year, which
prompted the full tear-down and rebuild. so far, so good, nothing
detrimental has appeared on the plugs. I'm running NGK UR4 v-groove
plugs, which I have for years and just love them.
The Holley carb on the engine is an early 70's emissions carb and has
lock-outs on the idle mixture screws. I have about three-quarters of a
turn available to me and when tuning, it seems I could go just a bit
leaner yet but the stops prevent me from going further.
I've toyed with the idea of buying a new after-market metering block but
haven't done much research. My initial hope was to put fuel-injection
on it. If not that, then maybe a whole new Holley carb built to
specification by one of the expert shops... but then I'd be up to EFI
costs probably.
The last thing to note is that I put a Pertronix Ignitor III ignition
module in the distributor last year too. I think this has done a -lot-
of good for consistent ignition and fuel economy. I was getting an
average north of 18 MPG on the trip to and from the event last year.
The -only- trouble I had, was coming up the grade out of
Lewiston-Clarkston Idaho. At just about the speed limit with steady
throttle, I began to get some ping. It was the only time I had it; so I
just put my foot into it some more and had some fun around the curves
climbing the mountain.
I'm running the highest octane pump gas I can get from the average
station. This summer I have started using an Ethanol treatment but
haven't started in the Pantera because I've not been to the gas station
yet; obviously not driving it enough this summer. I'll start on the
next fill-up.
Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
& Shelley Marie
Spokane, WA
******************************
http://www.racingagainstautism.com
http://www.teampanteraracing.com
http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism
On 7/6/2013 8:18 AM, David wrote:
> IMO and experience: tail pipe could be some indicator of a change, but
> not a definitive indicator or anything. The only sure way to judge
> plug temps is to look at all of them. The only sure ways to judge
> mixture are by reading the plug (and factoring driving) and/or with a
> properly calibrated a/f gauge. The possible error I see in this case
> is looking at the plugs after the trip home! Should hAve been done at
> the finish line. But , if you have no indicators ( eg surging or flat
> spots) of problems then you may be on the right track.
>
> A
> Simulation of race conditions could be done (race rpm in second gear
> for some miles?) to double check.
>
> The plug looked white (lean) to me and this may. Of be the truth.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Sent from my handheld gizmo, please forgive my typing!
>
> On Jul 6, 2013, at 8:56 AM, Asa Jay Laughton <asajay at asajay.com
> <mailto:asajay at asajay.com>> wrote:
>
> Mostly greyish-black, not white.
> Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
> & Shelley Marie
> Spokane, WA
> ******************************
> http://www.racingagainstautism.com
> http://www.teampanteraracing.com
> http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism
>
> On 7/5/2013 8:40 PM, michael at michaelshortt.com wrote:
>>
>> I think the plug looks really good, any leaner and you might be
>> courting problems.
>> How's the exhaust look, gray or white pipes?
>>
>> Michael Shortt
>>
>> On Jul 5, 2013 11:36 PM, "Asa Jay Laughton" <asajay at asajay.com
>> <mailto:asajay at asajay.com>> wrote:
>>
>> No sir,
>> I'm soliciting feedback from fellow gearheads to make sure I'm not
>> assuming something incorrectly about what I'm seeing.
>>
>> But I -was- the only one who didn't -trailer- their Pantera last
>> year.
>> :) If that's what you were referring to.
>>
>> Asa
>>
>> Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
>> & Shelley Marie
>> Spokane, WA
>> ******************************
>> http://www.racingagainstautism.com
>> http://www.teampanteraracing.com
>> http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism
>>
>>
>> On 7/5/2013 8:13 PM, TPR wrote:
>> > Are you bragging again? ;-)
>> >
>> >
>> > Asa Jay Laughton <asajay at asajay.com <mailto:asajay at asajay.com>>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hey all,
>> >> Sample spark plug #2 attached. All eight looked nearly
>> identical to
>> >> this one. I'd attach more photos but they are a bit fuzzy.
>> I'll put
>> >> them up in the gallery later. This is after about 3,000 miles
>> on the
>> >> new engine, drive to SSCC, race at SSCC and drive home.
>> Looking good to
>> >> me so far.
>> >>
>> >> Asa
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Asa Jay Laughton, MSgt, USAFR, Retired
>> >> & Shelley Marie
>> >> Spokane, WA
>> >> ******************************
>> >> http://www.racingagainstautism.com
>> >> http://www.teampanteraracing.com
>> >> http://facebook.com/racingagainstautism
>> >>
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