I'm boosted at 17psi. Every time I raise my boost I need to close the gap more and more and I'm wondering if it's too closed.

I needed to close it to .026 to keep it from misfiring.

Now, don't get me wrong, It runs fine so to me I feel it's okay...but does anyone else run such a closed gap at 17psi+?

 

holy crap, 17psi? how much hp/tq are you putting down with that?

 

Don't know...I haven't gone to the dyno.

 

In my opinion, theres nothing wrong with .026, I am having misfire issues as well at 17psi (I have a thread about this right now). I was suspecting that it was due to having timing way too low, but at this point, i really doubt thats the issue, it has to be weak ignition. I have ordered a voltage booster which should and will eliminate the missing and be able to gap them at .030 hopefully more.

 

i'm gapped at .027

 

Oh well, that's good to know then.

 

i ran stock gap at 17psi on my vortech with no problems. you sure your AFR is good as that will cause missing as well.

 

Hmmm...yet others are running a gap similar to mine. My A/F is in the upper 11's. I just figured maybe my coils are kinda flimsy...they do have 85K miles on them. I dunno.

 

I run that a .026 gap at 38psi. the smaller the gap, the weaker the spark, the less efficient the combustion. you want to run the widest gap you can without miss/blowout.

If you cant run without miss, then keep closing the gap. There is no right or wrong. just what works for your setup

 

.026 is as high as I can go without blowout. But I see some people running a much larger gap ( usually at lower psi's which makes sense ) and wonder if my system may be tired. Do you not have ANY modifications to your ignition system?

 

Wouldn't stock compression at XX PSI be more dense (and prone to blowout) than low compression at the same PSI?

 

True.

 

hks ignition amp may make a lot of sense for you

 

I heard alot of good stuff about this:

http://www.kennebell.net/accessories...oostaspark.htm

DO IT!@!! LOL

 

The stock ignition system if more than adequate, I was running 17PSI, making 700rwhp without any issues. Also you should be running iridium plugs that come pre-gapped, they are easily damaged and recommended not to re-gap them.

-George

 

Don't forget he's running stock compression. Your effective PSI != his.

 

regardless, I ran 17psi supercharged, stock block,with stock gapped 1 step colder copper plugs with zero problems on 100% stock electrical.

That gap is very small for the power and volume of air being pushed thru. The OP's contacts might be corroded. could be fouled plugs, who knows.

the boost a spark might be a good option to run more gap, otherwise, just run that small of a gap.

 

What djamps is trying to say is that on stock compression the cylinder pressure will be considerably higher at the same psi than on low compression which could be the reason why you can run such a high gap while other seem to need a lower one. It makes sense.

 

str8dum1 just said he ran the same psi supercharged on a stock block with stock gap and a colder plug. Apples to apples comparison.

It sounds to me like poor grounding though. Check that you have a good ground on your engine still. Check the plug holes and the bottom of the plugs for corrosion that might make for a poor ground. Check the connectors in the coils for corrosion and buildup. Replace the spark plugs just to verify.

All these options are much cheaper and easier to do than an ignition booster.

You should be able to run at least in the mid .03X's for gap at your level with the stock ignition. Assuming you have good engine grounding, the stock ignition is more than capable of good spark for only 17psi with normal compression.

 

Quamen brings up a very good point with the grounding, was the car ever repainted? If so check all the factory grounds to make sure they are properly grounded.

-George