Spark Plugs and Gap for 2.3 Whipple

carguy96

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I will be running a Gen 2 2.3 Whipple at roughly 17psi of boost and would like some opinions on spark plugs and Gap.
On my Ported Eaton setup, I had NGK TR6 gapped at 0.32. Should I stick with the TR6 or go to the TR7?
Does a 0.25 Gap seem too tight for that setup?
Then a matter or Copper vs Iridium?
 

GodStang

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Iridium is famous for shattering under boost so I run copper. Plus $1.97 a plug is way better. I ran .028 when I was running low boost (17-19psi) for years and had zero issues. I hope you meant .032 and .025. I don't run TR6 or TR7s so can't help you there.
 

carguy96

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Iridium is famous for shattering under boost so I run copper. Plus $1.97 a plug is way better. I ran .028 when I was running low boost (17-19psi) for years and had zero issues. I hope you meant .032 and .025. I don't run TR6 or TR7s so can't help you there.

Yes, I meant 0.032 and 0.025 gaps. And that's good to know about the iridium shattering under boost, I will go with the copper ones then.
I guess I will stay closer to 0.025-0.028. My tuner was suggesting 0.020-0.025 but I thought that sounded sort of tight. (I am only running 93 octane fuel).
 

Comp04svt

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I've always ran TR6's in mine at .028, as that's what my tuner has always recommended. I've tried a few different plugs and seems my car always ran best with the TR6's. I've ran them at that gap from 15 psi to the 19 psi I'm at now, on 93 and now E85.
 

carguy96

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I've always ran TR6's in mine at .028, as that's what my tuner has always recommended. I've tried a few different plugs and seems my car always ran best with the TR6's. I've ran them at that gap from 15 psi to the 19 psi I'm at now, on 93 and now E85.

What is the actual difference? One runs cooler than the other?
 

Comp04svt

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What is the actual difference? One runs cooler than the other?

Difference in spark plug? If so yes could be heat range or tip design and material ie, copper vs iridium. I would guess in my case when I ran a TR7ix I had what felt like spark blow out no matter the gap and the car even idled bad. The tip design might have contributed to that. Went back to a TR6 and car was perfect.
 

SS EATR

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I used to run the TR6 in mine, but I upgraded to the BR7EF recently and the car seems to like them better. The main reason I did that, though, was because I'm running 20psi (110/93 mix).
 

01yellercobra

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I ran TR6's in my last car that was an F1A at 19psi. Among other things. I had the gap at .030" and never had an issue with spark blow out. I'm currently at .032", but my boost is no where near 17psi. I'll probably start at .030" when the new blower goes on and work from there.
 

apex svt

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FWIW the 7’s reduce the likeliness of detonation due to the non protruding tip. I’d use them with high boost or nitrous. I run 7’s in my car.
But from my experience the tr6’s idle better.
Side note order plugs from rockauto and google the coupon code, by far cheapest plugs you can find.
B0C10F4E-E59A-40B4-B862-57CE1D7150E3.jpeg
 

carguy96

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Whipple (& Ford Racing) recommends Denso Iridium. I run them in mine and they perform very well.

Right in the manual: http://www.terminator-cobra.com/Whipple FR installation manual.pdf

More on the S/C: Engine

Good reading on plugs: Electrical

Thanks for supplying that guide ad the other links, I will be sure to g through those. So is it crucial to run a the Denso Spark Plugs, or can I use the NGK TR6/TR7?
I plan to gap my plugs roughly 0.028. The goal is to have a good idle as well.
 

carguy96

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FWIW the 7’s reduce the likeliness of detonation due to the non protruding tip. I’d use them with high boost or nitrous. I run 7’s in my car.
But from my experience the tr6’s idle better.
Side note order plugs from rockauto and google the coupon code, by far cheapest plugs you can find. View attachment 1558183

Are the 7's also copper? As someone stated above, I would not like to have any spark plugs shatter.
 

03DSGMach1

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I've been running TR6's gapped at 0.028 for about a decade at 18psi on my 2.3, idles well and have not had any issues. Just swapped in a fresh set the other day.
 
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carguy96

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I've been running TR6's gapped at 0.28 for about a decade at 18psi on my 2.3, idles well and have not had any issues. Just swapped in a fresh set the other day.

A friend of mine also said he was running TR6s with a 0.028 gap when he was running his 2.3 whipple on E85 and 22psi boost.
 

carguy96

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In regards to gaping these plugs, it seems that the NGK R TR6 Plugs come at 0.040, is it wise to try to bring that gap to 0.028, or is reducing the gap by 0.012 too much?
 

GodStang

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Are the 7's also copper? As someone stated above, I would not like to have any spark plugs shatter.

NGK-3346/BR7EF are Copper. The TR7IX are Iridium.


In regards to gaping these plugs, it seems that the NGK R TR6 Plugs come at 0.040, is it wise to try to bring that gap to 0.028, or is reducing the gap by 0.012 too much?

Yes it's fine to regap them to the gap you will be running.
 

carguy96

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NGK-3346/BR7EF are Copper. The TR7IX are Iridium.




Yes it's fine to regap them to the gap you will be running.

Ok, I thought I had read somewhere that gaping plugs more than 0.008 could be problematic.

I assume you're running DENSO plugs? If not, what plugs are you running? As stated before, I don't plan on running more than 17-18psi for a while and want a solid idle.
 

GodStang

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Ok, I thought I had read somewhere that gaping plugs more than 0.008 could be problematic.

I assume you're running DENSO plugs? If not, what plugs are you running? As stated before, I don't plan on running more than 17-18psi for a while and want a solid idle.


I run NGK R5724-9
 

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