Thread: Spark Plug gapping & washer placement???

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Hello Everyone, I hope everyone had a great Easter! ...
A couple of spark plug questions; #1) On the washers that came with my plugs one side of them is larger in diameter than the other side. Does it matter which side goes towards the plug? #2) When gapping plugs with one of those round 'cheap-y' plug gappers how do you get an even gap on the plug? For instance if you set the plug to 'center' on 35 thousands it seems as if one side of the electroid will be set at 37 thousands & the other side at 33 thousands. I hope I'm explaining this right & that they aren't 'silly' questions! Thanks to all Bill
ps, if it matters I have AFR 195 street heads....

Thank You Denny! .... I will put the bigger side towards the plug. And, 4 steps? Should I get one of those plug gap tools? Does that do a better job? Thanks again, Bill

i double check my gap, you have to use washer plugs with AFR's? i thought they used peanut plugs? my 80 chevy truck takes autolite 26's no washers, the racecar takes 85's or 86's and they use washers. and the washer side thats smaller goes into the head to help seat/seal the plug have fun

Thank You Gassers Rule, I use Autolite Racing AR3911's because that's what the guy who built the motor put in. They come with Washers & when he put the original plugs in he used Washers. I will call AFR tomorrow & ask 'em about not using them.... Fun? ha, ha, ha... But seriously, it's really no big deal to change the plugs in my '32. I remember about a year ago when I changed the plugs {& wires} in the '94 Firebird that I had. NOW were talking about NO FUN, for sure!!! .... It took me 3 days, although not 8 hour days, still it was a REAL pain it the ***. AND when I finished I had no A/C!!! Yeah, I knew my '32 was almost done so when problems arose I just grabbed the hack saw!!! {& no oil pressure gauge} Thanks again Bill

dont forget anti seize on those allum heads

Thank You Denny & Gassers Rule, hummm, didn't use anti sieze . I have before but not this time... but I do change them when the motor is cold.... Within the next couple of weeks I'm getting a new home computer & I'll post pictures of my plugs & how they look after being gapped. I think I'm doing it correctly...... Although this may be a bigger problem. I always tighten down the plugs snug & then give them one more little push on the rachet. Well this time {on one plug} when I pushed down a little more it all of a sudden got easier as if it stripped out a little..... I just left it 'as is' for now & the car runs fine.... I 'm affraid to take the plug out now..... One of my plug holes {don't know which one, but it was on the end as this one is} had to be repaired when they re-built the motor as it was stripped out. I hope all is well....... Bill

I had to repair a stripped plug hole on one of my cars. Used a heli-coil and after 10 years stil no problems. It does a lasting job when done correctly.