Jonpro03 Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 On my TGP: I just bought some nice ACDelcos Iridium tips and when I went to gap them, they are already set at like .060 I wanted to put them at .038 but it has to be at least .045. I tried using needle nose pliers to pull it out but I can't get it to budge and Im afraid to ruin these plugs I just paid 7.50 each for. How do I gap these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingVee Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Sandpaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonpro03 Posted March 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 I need to close the gap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KingVee Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Oh, then I failed to understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 I did a little checking around on the internet...the consistent thing I found was DO NOT GAP ACDELCO IRIDIUM Plugs. Leave them the way they came. Which runs counter to everything I've ever read before about spark plugs... On my TGP: I just bought some nice ACDelcos Iridium tips and when I went to gap them, they are already set at like .060 I wanted to put them at .038 but it has to be at least .045. I tried using needle nose pliers to pull it out but I can't get it to budge and Im afraid to ruin these plugs I just paid 7.50 each for. How do I gap these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonpro03 Posted March 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Thats really weird... It says right on the box: SET GAP PER VEHICLE SPECIFICATION Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Exactly. That's what I would have expected...personally, I've never put a set of plugs in any car without setting/checking the gap first. That's why it sounded so wrong to me--I agree with you. Thats really weird... It says right on the box: SET GAP PER VEHICLE SPECIFICATION Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonpro03 Posted March 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Well, Ill put em in a .060 and see what happens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 They look like regular side-electrode plugs, at least according to Google images. Why can't you just gap 'em like normal plugs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonpro03 Posted March 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Not a lot to grab on to with pliers, but what i could grab i couldn't move Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Iridium is supposed to be very hard...but generally, that would also mean brittle. Not sure how they'd hold up to having the electrode bent.. They look like regular side-electrode plugs, at least according to Google images. Why can't you just gap 'em like normal plugs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 I thought the side electrode is just regular ol' iron and only the tip of the center electrode and that little dot on the side electrode is the only part that's Iridium? That was how it was on the Delco platinums. Usually if the starting gap is larger than I want, I just gently tap the side electrode on a hard surface till it's right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonpro03 Posted March 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 So i found this: http://www.acdelco.com/parts/sparkplugs/identification.jsp Im assuming they cant be gaped as they come pregaped. Then I found this on NGK.com (the iridiums in my 96 are ngk): Should I gap my Iridium Plugs? The manufacturers say NO. This is because most people do not know how to properly gap a spark plug, and the center electrodes on the ultra-fine iridium can easily snap if mishandled. There is no warranty for snapped center electrodes. The manufacturers say an iridium spark plug will run so much better than a traditional plug, even if it is not gapped for that motor, that they would prefer you just leave it rather than risk snapping the center electrode. Personally, we at sparkplugs.com, gap our iridium plugs for our own vehicles (we’re rebels). If you insist on gapping your iridium plug, please refer to Proper Gapping for instruction. Then this: Proper Gapping In most cases the factory set gap should conform to your vehicle specifications. However if it is necessary to widen the gap, do so with a tool that only pulls back on the ground electrode without touching the center electrode or the porcelain. To close the gap on a plug, gently tap the plug, electrode first on a hard surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertISaar Posted March 3, 2010 Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 I thought the side electrode is just regular ol' iron and only the tip of the center electrode and that little dot on the side electrode is the only part that's Iridium? That was how it was on the Delco platinums. Usually if the starting gap is larger than I want, I just gently tap the side electrode on a hard surface till it's right. correct, the only iridium is on the tip of the plug, not the ground strap. a light tapping with a light hammer or rubber mallet may get the results you're looking for, but my gapper is able to open and close the gap with relative ease... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonpro03 Posted March 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2010 Tapping did it. Got em set to .038 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted To Boost Posted March 4, 2010 Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 If you're running higher boost than stock, gap them to .030 and it should run better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonpro03 Posted March 4, 2010 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2010 12-14 lbs boost. Don't know for sure cause the gauge could be off .030 then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Addicted To Boost Posted March 5, 2010 Report Share Posted March 5, 2010 If you're looking at the stock boost gauge, it is off. If its chipped and you really are running 12 PSI, then yes, run .030. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockfangd Posted March 7, 2010 Report Share Posted March 7, 2010 a very useful tip for closing gap on spark plugs that i use is a soft piece of wood on a table. Then i take and press the ground into the wood till I feel it move slightly and it has always worked perfect for me. What I recommend is trying it out on a few old spark plugs first for good measure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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