Do I need short plugs?

[LT4Thunder]

Are short plugs mandatory if you have headers?:confused I have an intermittent miss :cry that a friend suggested may be from interference between spark plugs and/or wires and my headers. Is Accel the only manufacturer of shorter plugs? Any help on this would be appreciated as I want to replace plugs and wires soon.

 

[WhalePirot]

Is Accel the only manufacturer

First, look at the plugs near the headers, with the car running in a darkened environment. You may see arcing. Straight plug heads can have this problem I found, with some headers. Mine are TPIS, who suggested denting them for more clearance. Yeah, right. U see how tight things are in there?

My mechanic dented #7 a bit, and it did NOT solve the problem. I have a set of (expensive) insulative sleeves, which did NOT help.

The Accel shorties are NO shorter than the Bosch plugs. They sit in a garage cabinet and are available, if you'd like.

Sooooooooooooooo, every once if a while, when the missing/arcing starts, I pull and discard the old boot; then WD-40 a new one and slide it on. Not a biggie if one has quite a few old boots.

I am seriously considering heat wrapping these headers, as I did my old set. They are more effective and it eliminates some underhood heat. I did not find any crystallization of the metal after years of running thusly. Headers bolts are, however, harder to reach.

mike

 

[LT4Thunder]

Thanks, Whale.

I was beginning to think my post was so dumb it didn't warrant a reply.

I will replace my plugs with Bosch instead of the Accells. I have read other posts on the Accells that haven't been that great. If the miss goes away with the new wires then reappears down the line, I will then change out the boots. Not that much of a pain to get this beast running right.

I have been wanting to have it dyno tuned, but the present state its in would be a waste of money. If this works yahoo!.

Thanks again

 

[givsum]

Hey LT4Thunder,
Could you detail your miis that you are getting. I just picked up a 1991 383 Stroker that is basically flawless. I've had it to a mechanic and he has gone through it pretty heavely. I've noticed that mine tends to skip/miss quite a bit in the lower gears on take off. It really feels like a gas line problem (filter) but, if so, I'd have the skip throughout the powerband. All wires have been replaced. (one wire had completely melted off due to the header) I wonder if I have the same problem as you. Did short plugs solve you problem?

 

[LT4Thunder]

givsum,

To be honest with you I am not sure if my miss is electrical or fuel either. I bought the car in April and figure new plugs and wires are in order anyway. I'm hoping to see some results from this but haven't installed yet.

My car seems to stutter, after it warms up, at low to medium throttle. If I stomp on it, it sorts itself out.

I know my car needs programming as well. It has close to the stock program with mods such as hotcam, ported heads and intake, headers with no cats and 4:10 gears. The problem is that at $125/hr for dynotuning, I don't want them wasting time trouble shooting.
I DO want them to lay the whip to all the ponys I have under the hood!

I'm not sure this helps you out, but I will keep you posted.