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Side gapped 103's

  • Thread starter Thread starter TDCRacing
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TDCRacing

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I know how to do this on a regular plug ( read the writeup Chris made) but noticed that zzp sold nickle plated side gapped 103's and was wondering you guys opinions on them. Im going to do side gapped plugs either way but was just wondering if i should do them myself or go for the nickle plated ones.
 


TDCRacing said:
I know how to do this on a regular plug ( read the writeup Chris made) but noticed that zzp sold nickle plated side gapped 103's and was wondering you guys opinions on them. Im going to do side gapped plugs either way but was just wondering if i should do them myself or go for the nickle plated ones.
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The write up that Chris made?

Ive sidegapped a lot of plugs and I just cant imagine ZZP doing any better job than you can. Ive never tried nickle plated ones before, but my thought in running copper plug to begin with is to reduce the materials the hinder in anyway the conductivity of the spark. Nickle would not be as good of a conductor as copper so I would be reluctant to use them. Is it going to make a huge difference? In the grand scheme of things, probably not that big. But you are paying a big premium for them to sidegap them for you and to get the nickle coating.

I buy mine at Wal-Mart for a buck and a half each if that and spend a few minutes with the dremel and its all good.
 
SyntheticShield said:
The write up that Chris made?

Ive sidegapped a lot of plugs and I just cant imagine ZZP doing any better job than you can. Ive never tried nickle plated ones before, but my thought in running copper plug to begin with is to reduce the materials the hinder in anyway the conductivity of the spark. Nickle would not be as good of a conductor as copper so I would be reluctant to use them. Is it going to make a huge difference? In the grand scheme of things, probably not that big. But you are paying a big premium for them to sidegap them for you and to get the nickle coating.

I buy mine at Wal-Mart for a buck and a half each if that and spend a few minutes with the dremel and its all good.
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I belive it was chris? Or maybe he just put it in the how to section. How long does it take with the dremel per plug? Any special techinecs you use to prevent hitting the ....shoot for got the name beore you fully cut through the electrode?
 
It takes just a minute or so per plug. Cut real slow as you dont really want to cut or nick the center electrode. I use a cutting wheel to cut back the ground electrode and then a sand paper wheel to round off all the corners. You dont want any sharp edges as they can become hot spots and promote KR. You also dont want to cut the ground electrode back too far either. Cut it back just to the edge of the center electrode.

If you have never done it before, have a couple spares on hand as you will likely make a goof or two. Take the thickness of the cutting wheel into account. If you can, use a fine tip sharpie to mark the cutting point of the ground electrode.

When I went to the Topeka, KS NHRA nationals last year, the Fram top fuel car had a rack of side gapped plugs on display and they were the absolute most perfect sidegapped plugs Ive ever seen. They either buy them from the manufacturer like that or they have a machine of some type built to do it because the cuts were dead on on every plug.

Ive thought, in the past, about trying one of those automotive snipping tools but have never gotten around to seeing if that would work any better.
 
Thanks. I remember seeing that picture and statement in the writeup so it must of been you lol.
 


Well by the time I bought the cut off wheels and the sanding dowels and the cost of possibly messing up a cupple plugs i figured i may come out about even. Now I'll have plenty of cut of wheels and sanding dowels to do a lot more plugs but still.



Im just going to do it myself. Scotty you said you got your's from wal-mart. I looked at mine and didnt see any. Is the model number AL103 on the package?


It's only a dollar cheaper than zzp for 6 of them but if i mess up any i'd like to have someplace i can run and pick some more up
 


Those AR103's that ZZP sells are fine with the cutback electrode and nickle plating. I ran a set right after my cam install. For $13 over the regular 103's seemed like a good deal. I did cut back an old set of 104s and they turned out looking ok.

I saw that some previous 103 people have switched to Champion RS12YC plugs, so I gave them a shot. Apparently they are a better quality plug, lasts longer, and are a heat range between the 104 and 103s. I've only had them in for about 3k miles so far and seem to be holding up, but for me it's a little early to tell. I know Fastgs88 runs these in his 11 sec regal. We will see.
 
IndeedSS said:
Those AR103's that ZZP sells are fine with the cutback electrode and nickle plating. I ran a set right after my cam install. For $13 over the regular 103's seemed like a good deal. I did cut back an old set of 104s and they turned out looking ok.

I saw that some previous 103 people have switched to Champion RS12YC plugs, so I gave them a shot. Apparently they are a better quality plug, lasts longer, and are a heat range between the 104 and 103s. I've only had them in for about 3k miles so far and seem to be holding up, but for me it's a little early to tell. I know Fastgs88 runs these in his 11 sec regal. We will see.
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I'll check back with you on those plugs
 
Also, IndeedSS.... Notice anything with the Autolite Racing plugs? I run AL103s now, been thinking about trying the ARs, not sure though...
 


I bought a set of ar103s tonight, I have to buy/borrow a dremel to side gap them. I will let you know this weekend or something.
 
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