What Spark Plugs?

I have an '88 302 with '86 near-flat-top pistons, stock '88 roller cam, E7 heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, 600 CFM Holley, shortie headers, 2.25" duals. I'm going to do the initial startup with a points distributor (with a steel gear) that I know is good but once its running I'll replace it with an HEI distributor. (Don't know if the HEI dist is good or not.) I get the compression ratio at 9.2-9.5. What spark plugs should I use with the HEI sistributer and what gap? Plan to use the stock '72 plug gap with the points dist. Thanks.

 

Running the stock plug gap with the HEI will be fine. You may be able to run 5 or 10 thousanths more than stock but chances are your not going to notice a difference in performance. Although there is nothing wrong with HEI, its basically a GM ignition system, I have always felt funny about using one on a Ford. None the less it should be a fairly good distributor for you and will work with the stock plugs and gaps.

 

Thanks for the info. I'll pick up some stock '88 HO plugs.

That distributor wouldn't have been my first choice either but my older brother, not in good health, was excited about the deal he found on a new one. I'll run it for a while at least.

 

You can run about a .060" gap with the HEI. I'd do at least .055", might as well take advantage of the High Energy Ignition, right? Too close a gap will actually cause premature plug wear with that ignition.

 

Thanks. :Handshake

 

I ran stock plugs on my 5.0 (308) and tended to run clean and white like it was lean. I later hooked it up to a dyno and found that it wasn't lean, but the plugs were too hot, so I went 2 steps cooler, and all is nice and brown now.

 

No Easy Answer

Found this http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/spark_plugs_tips/index.html

Looks like there's no easy answer. Takes some T&T. Guess I'll start with one or two heat ranges colder than plugs speced for an '88 HO and see how that goes. Should get lots of practice changing plugs on a 302 Mav. Thanks for responses.

 

get autolite 26's. best plugs to use. they burn hot and are cheap. i ran 26's in my race car before i put in the 289 heads. now i have to run 45's they are 13/16 plug

 

Thanks. I'll try them.

 

Hi.

Hello facelessnumber:

I wanna buy a HEI distributor. And I know you have one installed.

Do you use stock park plugs?

What type of park wires do you use?

Do you need to plug the vacuum advance like the stock distributor?

 

Yep.

An Accel set listed for a '75 Camaro.

 

Thanks

Thanks.

Only one question
Do you need to plug the vacuum advance like the stock distributor?

 

Might not need to, but I did.