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Indexing? Is that when you match a plug to each cylinder individually so that the ground electrode of the plug is facing the back of the combustion chamber and the open side of the plug faces the valves and quench area? Is that how they should be oriented or have I got it all wrong?
An expensive plug quite often isn't the right plug because they only make a limited number of temp ranges. I found the the V-power and the oher gimicks give you nothing over the right plug. With truck motors quite often the put short tipped and different heat range plugs in them. In my 390 came with RF10 plugs, but installing RF9YCs bumped mileage (2 mpg) and drive ability. The 9's are cooler and have extended tips for cleaner burning and easier ignition of the F/A mixture. Same type of deal applys to the 460's as truck motors. It takes a little research but the info is available.
Indexing? Is that when you match a plug to each cylinder individually so that the ground electrode of the plug is facing the back of the combustion chamber and the open side of the plug faces the valves and quench area? Is that how they should be oriented or have I got it all wrong?
yes thats it...usually buying 4 extra plugs is enough to get them all close
how do you do it? do you have to have the heads off so you can see your combustion chamber to make sure you have them lined up right? is there anything special to it or do you just try different plugs in different holes until you coincidentally get all the threads and electrodes to work out right?
It's easier to see what you're doing if the heads are off but no it doesn't have to be done that way.
The quench area is on the intake side of the combustion chamber and the valves and plug are on the exhaust manifold side of the chamber. On the porcelain of your new plugs use a permanent ink marker to show where the ground electrode is. When you have the plug in and tightened up, that mark should be facing out towards the exhaust manifold so that the open part of the plug is facing the intake side and the quench area. If the mark isn't facing out, try another plug and use that first one in another cylinder. You may have to buy 10 or 12 plugs to get 8 that work out. When you have them sorted out mark the plugs 1 to 8 on the top so you don't get them mixed up the next time you pull them all out.
Does it help? Couldn't say for sure but it won't hurt.
Not only is it a lot of screwing around for pretty much minimal gain, it's more work than necessary and you will never know the difference. I did it with race motors. Never bothered with a street motor.
Some mechanics have reported engine damage from the Bosch platinum plugs. That slim ceramic nose is not as strong as a regular plug and can break off and ruin the cylinder wall real quick.