NGK BP5ES or BP6ES in a 308 carb'd | FerrariChat

NGK BP5ES or BP6ES in a 308 carb'd

Discussion in '308/328' started by samba-lee, Jan 6, 2009.

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  1. samba-lee

    samba-lee Formula Junior

    Aug 28, 2006
    677
    Manchester, UK
    Full Name:
    Lee Griffiths
    Can we have a quick poll for the regular city drivers of carb'd cars.

    I'm running BP6ES's and have to clean/change them every 6 months or so. I do a lot of city driving and I reckon I've got my carbs set up now. Car always runs like a dream with a new set of plugs.

    Thinking of trying the 5's to reduce fouling

    What do you run ?

    Lee
     
  2. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    I run 5s.......here, I think the alcohol additives are really softening varnish.

    And I make a point of a high speed blast once in awhile (when no one's looking!)

    Make sure to adjust the gap..........022 seems a sweet spot (015 -.025 spec'd.)
     
  3. Perfusion

    Perfusion F1 Rookie

    Oct 16, 2004
    4,151
    Marietta, GA
    Full Name:
    Aaron
    I too run BP5ES plugs in my 79 GT4 on the recommendation of my mechanic.
     
  4. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,843
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
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    Steve Magnusson
    #4 Steve Magnusson, Jan 6, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2009
    They are a little more pricey, but the NGK Iridium BPR5EIX or BPR6EIX will be much more resistant to fouling IME.

    BigTex -- What is your reference for the .015" - .025" spark plug gap specification? In the 308GT4 WSM, I think they made a typo error and listed it as 0.4 mm (.016"), but every carbed 308 OM that I've come across gives the stock spark plug gap spec as 0.6 - 0.7 mm (which gets translated into .024" - .028" or .024" - .027").
     
  5. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
    Houston, Texas
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    Bubba
    From my 1977 North American Owner's Manual.....admittedly, for old Champion plugs!

    Rifledriver told me to stay in the upper range, but that's banged down considerably, from how they come "in the box"..(.035)
     
  6. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Dec 6, 2002
    79,386
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    #6 BigTex, Jan 6, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 6, 2009
    Sounds like we end up at about the same point, though.......I'll re-read it and make sure!
     
  7. Birdman

    Birdman F1 Veteran

    Jun 20, 2003
    6,689
    North shore, MA
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    THE Birdman
    When I was on the stock ignition I used BP5ES and never had fouling issues. .024" gap.

    With the electromotive I use the 7's.

    Birdman
     
  8. snj5

    snj5 F1 World Champ

    Feb 22, 2003
    10,213
    San Antonio
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    Russ Turner
    I had to go to the hotter plugs with carbs as well, even with MSD. But once set up, no fouling problems at all.
     
  9. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jan 11, 2001
    26,843
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
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    Steve Magnusson
    Interesting -- I found the same .015" - .025" spec given in the 1977 NA version 308GT4 OM, but the 308GT4 euro version OM 91/74 gives .020" - .025":
    Image Unavailable, Please Login

    Although, per the same specs, Lee SHOULD be cleaning them every 6 months ;)
     
  10. Steve King

    Steve King F1 Rookie

    Feb 15, 2001
    4,367
    NY
    I'm using 5's in my 77 and had just changed them after 5 years. They still look good. I have Pertronix ign.
     
  11. miketuason

    miketuason F1 World Champ
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    Feb 24, 2006
    15,813
    Cerritos, CA.
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    Mike
    What kind of Iridium do you guys recommend for a stock US QV? Thanks:)
     
  12. jimshadow

    jimshadow F1 Veteran
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    Feb 19, 2006
    6,252
    Indiana/North Carolina
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    JIM
    BP6ES. Cheap and easy to change out

    JIM
     
  13. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    4,334
    Sydney
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    maurice T
    I'm using BP5EY.The tip has a little groove in it
     
  14. 4REGT4

    4REGT4 Karting

    Aug 25, 2006
    124
    When I had my '75 GT4 I used BPR6ES
     
  15. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Glad you concur Steve, I only have the 1976, 1977 Owners Manuals, although I do have the earlier GT4 WSM, also.......
     
  16. FasterIsBetter

    FasterIsBetter F1 Veteran

    Jul 22, 2004
    5,855
    NoNJ/Jupiter FL
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    Steve W.
    Good question -- What are you guys using with the Electromotive?? I think I've got BP6ES's in the car right now. Just wondering if that's the right plug with the Electromotive coils. And what gap?
     
  17. jimshadow

    jimshadow F1 Veteran
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    Feb 19, 2006
    6,252
    Indiana/North Carolina
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    JIM
    I'll be interested too. Nick suggested a plug that is no longer available so I kept the BP6ES plugs. I used the gap that was suggested in the Electromotive instructions. (Can't remember what it is now...)

    JIM
     
  18. thecarreaper

    thecarreaper F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Sep 30, 2003
    18,076
    Savannah
    when i was using the Crane boxes on my carb cars, Crane's Tech guys specd .050 !
     
  19. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    May 29, 2001
    18,047
    USA
    #19 f355spider, Jan 7, 2009
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2009
    This thread is going way off topic, but I had Crane ignition boxes on my carb 78 308GTS and ran BPR6ES at .034 gap. Ran great! It was gapped by a tech at .025 in error during a plug change and immediately had a high end miss. Changing the gap had it purring again.

    I would not worry with running NGK 5's if you are experiencing some fouling. Many I hear are using them sucessfully.
     
  20. 4REGT4

    4REGT4 Karting

    Aug 25, 2006
    124
    I had Crane ignition boxes on my GT4 as well with the BPR6ES..I don't recall the gap, but I did widen it.
     
  21. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

    Oct 29, 2004
    5,379
    NWA
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    Paul
    BPR6ES's were sputtering in mine a bit, went to BP6ES and it ran awesome. Points cars can have trouble with resistor plugs. I too dropped to 5's, I think Tex hit the problem, our fuel sucks.
     
  22. brook308

    brook308 Formula Junior

    Oct 19, 2007
    346
    SS Coast, Australia
    Full Name:
    George
    I changed from 6's to BP5ES due to fouling.

    Cheers

    George
     
  23. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

    Jan 25, 2004
    4,334
    Sydney
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    maurice T
    George good to see progress with your engine.Just a quick question,what fuel are you using, regular unleaded or premium?
     
  24. pdmracing

    pdmracing Formula Junior

    Feb 14, 2007
    755
    atlanta
    Just a note on our spec miata w pro motor, Engine builder they told us not to run the nippendenso irridium due to porcelin flaking off & scoring cylinders, I ran the NGKs instead. FWIW
     
  25. Ferraripilot

    Ferraripilot F1 World Champ
    Owner Project Master

    May 10, 2006
    17,858
    Atlanta
    Full Name:
    John!
    BP6ES. No fouling issues. I still use stock ignition except for Bosch 'red' coils which were a noticable upgrade and keeps a very stock look. They keep the plugs firing very well.
     

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