DIY - Spark Plug Indexing

[DifferentPointofView]

Go out to the car, yank your plug wires and then your old plugs.

if you yank them from the distributer, make sure you know your firing order and which one is cylinder 1!!!

[Chris D.]

Whats a distributor and a spark plug wire?

direct coilpacks FTW!!!

[LostCause]

Did you convert a distributor set-up to a coil-on-plug? If so, how?

I've been brainstorming on how to do it to an obd-1 honda, but their ECU only has one ignition channel. Apart from switching to a new ECU, which would inhibit other desirable features I'd want, I figure replacing the distributor w/ a variable reluctance sensor and distributing the spark signal to the coil packs w/ a demultiplexer would be the way to go...

Just a dream at this stage, but I'd like to know how you did it. I love the prospect of zero maintenance.

- LostCause

[Chris D.]

factory stuff..

you could go megasquirt..
I did it to my turbo car and it made tuning a breeze..

[Shawn D.]

Spark plug indexing is indeed a good 'ol racer's trick, but:

1. It's much less useful on engines with centrally-located plugs (i.e. go down through the valve cover) than side-entry plugs.
2. There are more gains to be had by ensuring the plugs are gapped properly. It appears the gap wasn't checked in this instance. As has already been mentioned in the thread, a plug can have multiple applications and it's likely not all of them have the same gap.

[malibuguy]

^ yep

but try doing it on a Sbc with headers...nuh uh, i ain't doing it, lol

i should tho...i need to put some new plugs in M1

[ttoyoda]

SVOboy
You need new gaskets around the spark plug tubes under the rocker arm cover. That oil is not supposed to be all over the old plugs.

[OfficeLinebacker]

I've been given to understand that Platinum +4's obviate the need for indexing.

[Chris D.]

Originally Posted by OfficeLinebacker

I've been given to understand that Platinum +4's obviate the need for indexing.

those are a horrible marketing scheme.
cant change the gap in em,
your only going to get one spark per plug reguardless of points on it..

[OfficeLinebacker]

Originally Posted by Chris D.

those are a horrible marketing scheme.
cant change the gap in em,
your only going to get one spark per plug reguardless of points on it..

Yeah but it's going to be the "best" path. If the "preferred" anode experiences wear, there are three others waiting to take up the slack.

I think it's more of a durability thing. I don't know if the path of least resistance is necessarily the best path in terms of combustion.