I have a '87 with a 460 and last year put a rebuilt motor and new plugs and a new MSD ignition system in it. Time flew by and I didn't realize that I had so many miles on the plugs or wires as it has been running pretty good. I just pulled them out this first week of august and was surprised by the widened gap on the NGK's. I have better resolution if anyone is interested, but I didn't want slow download times on a 300K pic so I downsized the image.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...=22154&width=0

TonyG

 

I haev a question for ya. Why are you running two different kinds of spark plugs?? Your truck is going to run like crap. Or you might just break something.

 

Technically accurate since my computer screen was to my right as I viewed the image

Bosch on right, NGK on *left*.

Are they both standard plugs? Not a Bosch platinum vs regular NGK?

The difference between the two is odd, but the gap will widen over time. Not sure if the cited amount is normal or not, but if they are not platinums, 100k is a lot of miles. I think 30k is normal for a plug change (non-plat).

If things were still running smoothly, I'd say the MSD is doing a good job.

 

When I put the new engine and MSD in the truck last April/May, I was planning to use (and had installed) Bosch Platinums because of previous experience in VW's. Then I read some rumblings and discussion about the high voltage from the MSD exploding the ceramic insulator around "some" plugs....and sure enough (coincidentally) at my local garage there just happened to be a bosch plug laying on a shelf with the ceramic insulater exploded. I called MSD and they wouldn't state which "Brand name" plug that people may have been referring to but they "kinda' acknowledged that they had heard "rumors" about some plugs with insulators that extended down in the the cylinders giving problems. But of course the MSD tech wouldn't want to be quoted with something like this...
Anyway, about the same time TorqueKing was lauding the benefits of these NGK power V plugs to be used in high energy ignition systems.... So before I had even 100 miles on the Bosch, I pulled them out and put in the V-power plugs. While replacing the plugs, I somehow managed to drop, misplace, lose, or cause to disappear one of the new V-powers. Since I had a trip to make, I stuck one of the Bosch Plugs in for temporary, thinking that I would get another V-power ASAP and replace the Bosch. Well, I FORGOT I had it in there... I was actually surprised to pull out the bosch and only then remembered about losing the NGK.

By the way, after 113,000 miles, there was no more "v-groove" on the ground portion of the NGK. It is as flat as a roadkill in the truck lane on I-70.

 

Are they both standard plugs? Not a Bosch platinum vs regular NGK?

No, the NGK's are a premium V-power plug, but are not Platinum. The v-power's cost about $2.50 or so each. The Bosch was a Platinum, but I think the most miles I had ever put on a VW with them in was 60,000.

If things were still running smoothly, I'd say the MSD is doing a good job. [/B][/QUOTE]

Things were starting to seem to run "not as smoothly".. harder starts, a stumble now and then...etc. That's what got me thinking about maybe it was time to change my plugs. As it turned out, they may have run awhile longer, because the major problem was a clogging fuel filter. I had just replaced rear fuel tanks and may have gotten some dust and dirt in the tank while changing.

Incidently, I just took one of the NGK's and laid it on top of a tape measure. (I know, not real scientific) I can easily see the 1/16" mark between the 2 posts. It's not a full 1/32" but I'd say its an easy 64th over 1/16th" for a gap of about 5/64th or a little larger. That would be about a .080 gap. I had originally gapped them at .050 so, I guess the MSD was doing it's job. I put up a higher resolution photo of the plugs in my gallery, but It doesn't seem any clearer.
Tony