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How much do I gap my plugs for my 5.3 turbo

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Old 01-28-2010, 05:59 PM
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Default How much do I gap my plugs for my 5.3 turbo

I am putting new plugs in and need to know what gap to use on these plugs. I searched and seemed to find different numbers, so I figured it might be specific to each persons setup. I am using NGK TR6's
Thanks in advance.
Justin
Old 01-28-2010, 06:04 PM
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mine are at .035
Old 01-28-2010, 06:31 PM
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Thanks, I'll try that and see how it runs
Justin
Old 01-28-2010, 07:04 PM
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You can go to .028-.030 with the turbo set up aswell. So you don't blow out the spark
Old 01-28-2010, 08:20 PM
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I don't know too much about gapping spark plugs, what is the benefit to the bigger or smaller gap. Can I assume the smaller the gap the less likely the spark will be blown out
Old 01-28-2010, 10:28 PM
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I was told just to use the gap that comes with the ngks
Old 01-28-2010, 10:41 PM
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I run the TR6's strait out of the box. I never change the gap. This comes from back in my NASCAR days when our engine builder said you run more of a risk of the electrode breaking off if you bend them. A couple thousands wouldn't make a difference. If they were that far off, then your not using the right plug or it's been damaged (dropped) and shouldn't be ran.
Old 01-28-2010, 11:31 PM
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tr6's straight out of the box, i checked the gap and i think it is .035
Old 01-29-2010, 12:40 AM
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Just put some tr6's on my turbo camaro.. Measured them out of the box and they were at a little over 45... Re set them to 35, as directed by my tuner
Old 01-29-2010, 04:06 AM
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I'm interested in how everyone is coming up with these gaps
Old 01-29-2010, 06:30 AM
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I have went as high as I am comfortable on Tr6s with an out of the box gap (.038-.040) with out blowing out spark on LS2 coils. That was 750rwhp, after that I switch to an 8, or non projected 7.
Old 01-29-2010, 07:40 AM
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I was blowing the spark out with them gapped at .035 so i shrank the gap down to .030 and it was all good
Old 01-29-2010, 01:54 PM
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blowing spark out at .035. went down to .025 now ok.
Old 01-29-2010, 07:32 PM
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.025 is awfully tight. You want to run as much as you can without blowing out the spark. How much boost are you running? On a customers bone stock 5.3 we ran .32 @ 20psi and .28 at 26psi. It collapsed a lifter at 26psi.
Old 01-29-2010, 07:48 PM
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Originally Posted by hellbents10
I have went as high as I am comfortable on Tr6s with an out of the box gap (.038-.040) with out blowing out spark on LS2 coils. That was 750rwhp, after that I switch to an 8, or non projected 7.
at what level do you need to upgrade to tr8's on a turbo motor ?
Old 01-29-2010, 08:06 PM
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Im running .030, was told that would be good. Seems to run just fine lol
Old 01-30-2010, 09:07 AM
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Originally Posted by b18c1hybrid
.025 is awfully tight. You want to run as much as you can without blowing out the spark. How much boost are you running? On a customers bone stock 5.3 we ran .32 @ 20psi and .28 at 26psi. It collapsed a lifter at 26psi.
ours actually started around 10psi... went from .035 to .028 and now .025. Truck coil and new wires. 370 CI. We are installing a new combo, so I am going to go back to .028.
Old 01-31-2010, 04:26 PM
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ok, the car seems to be running fine, would there be a very noticable difference if the spark was blowing out?
Justin
Old 01-31-2010, 05:04 PM
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Yes you would know if it was.
Old 02-03-2010, 07:40 PM
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What are the symptoms of a spark blowing out? maybe loosing power up top in higer power band...like cutting out or backing down like its pulling timing almost???? Im on BR7's gapped at .35...was on the 7's due to the TR6 being still too hot for my motor when running n2o before we boosted the car....its an LS4 325ci, 5.3L V8


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