Side gapped plugs
Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 29
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From: Lexington, KY
Side gapped plugs
I thought I would share some info with you fellows. Read on fordsix.com that one can get very good results i.e. 10to 15 percent increases in fuel economy and power if you side gap your plugs. They were talking about 6's but I assume you could make it work on 8's.
Side gapping in basically cutting off the cap of the plug so that the top of the plug is just to the left or right (depending on which side you are looking at). So, you end up with a plug with an electrode that is not covered with the metal cap (I call it a cap). These types of plugs are factory made for two strokes b/c of the increased spark. I cut mine off with a hacksaw. Very carefully. I can attest to the difference also.
Juke
Side gapping in basically cutting off the cap of the plug so that the top of the plug is just to the left or right (depending on which side you are looking at). So, you end up with a plug with an electrode that is not covered with the metal cap (I call it a cap). These types of plugs are factory made for two strokes b/c of the increased spark. I cut mine off with a hacksaw. Very carefully. I can attest to the difference also.
Juke
:-staun 
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 1,586
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From: Linwood, N.J. USA!
Side gapped plugs
Sounds like a good idea. Cheap too. My only question would be, is there any long term repercussions from doing this? Perhaps piston damage because of direct fire from the plugs. I know that this can happen when using "non-fouler" adaptors because they direct the fire right at the piston. I didn't know if there could be a similar effect. Jake.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 1,100
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From: Durham
Side gapped plugs
The only downside that I know of 
is that it cuts the life of the plug...probably almost in half. I wouldn't side gap a real expensive plug...but we side gap and index the plugs on our race car and my son can really feel the difference in power...but we change plugs after every 60-100 laps (3/8 mile track)
is that it cuts the life of the plug...probably almost in half. I wouldn't side gap a real expensive plug...but we side gap and index the plugs on our race car and my son can really feel the difference in power...but we change plugs after every 60-100 laps (3/8 mile track)
