I'm really impressed with what i read in here the other night about "side gapping" the spark plugs. I had never heard of it before. Well, today i took out the autolite plugs i put in last month at tune-up time and i "side gapped" them. I used my bench grinder to shave down the electrodes and a small file and wire wheel to clean the tiny burrs. After driving to work on them like that i noticed an improvement in accleration that wasn't just imaginary. Even my idle seems stronger, more steadier....no kidding! And these were 99 cent autolites that i wasn't very happy with because i had been using bosch platniums for the last 4 years. I only put the autolites in to save some money. Honestly, i was going to put new bosch's back in this weekend cuz the autolites just didn't compare, plus my mileage wasn't as good either. I had nothing to lose. Like i said, it took me 30 minutes from start to finish to pull em, grind em, and put em back in. Thumbs up...thats all i have to say. Side gap your cheap autolites and enjoy! Can't wait to see if my mileage has improved at next fill-up.
I'm running a:
81 F-150 Styleside 8'bed
4.9L 1BBL Carb
C-6 Automatic Transmission
Payload Package 6100LB GVWR
Limited Slip Rear Axle
187,000 miles all put on by me

 

ok exaxtly what part of the plug are yo talking about and how much of it did you grind off

shotgun
79 F150 4x4
300 4 spd
dont know miles for sure odometer broke at 205,000

 

Hello goto , for sidegapping.http://performanceunlimited.com/illustrations/sparkplugs.html

 

I just got done with my truck. Side gaped the plugs. I noticed a difference in power. My truck really takes off now. The idle has been smooth before so it's the same. The acceleration is smooth and powerful. My truck sounds louder too. It's actually fun driving it around stomping on the pedal! I love that feeling of torque and power. Greg.

 

I'd be interested to know how long a set of plugs will last using this method...

 

I think the plugs will only last half the life is they were not modified. Thats why you use the $1 autolites. Greg.

 

im gonna try this too....thin they would last 10-15,ooo miles?


1985 F-150/351Ho/4wd
many mods

on a quiet night your can hear the chevys rusting away

 

Maybe 10,000 miles. Im going to watch and see how many miles I get out of mine. Greg.

 

I bought some autolites for my 351 tonight and side gapped em and put em in there also my old plugs were showing a lean conditions so i went ahead and stripped all the vacume lines off my motor that were not needed in hopes of fixing minor vacume leaks..i left the vacume advance, the lines for the air conditioning, heater, some line to the carb that was needed,the brake booster and the transmission lines. also i removed the two charcoal canisters and all their crap with them also, after i started my truck and noticed she was idling lower so i think that fixed the vacume leaks also it runs smoother and seems to have more power..i think that must be a combination of the sidegapping and the fixed vacume leak.next on my list is to actually remove the egr valve and plate, and maybe a edelbrock 1406 carb



1985 F-150/351Ho/4wd
many mods

on a quiet night your can hear the chevys rusting away