MSD 6a spark plug gap and rough idle
#1
12-06-2007, 11:11 PM
MSD 6a spark plug gap and rough idle
Hey all,
2 questions,
YesterdayI installed a 6a box on the truck and I didn't have a chance to pull the plugs and regap them to .045, which is what I believe is generally recommended (so currently running .040 gap). What exactly is the benefit of opening the gap up more than stock?
I've noticed my idle is a little smoother and moderate to heavy acceleration is slightly smoother and faster, but I still have a slight wobbly idle (the rpms wobble by about 50 at idle and the engine isa little rough sounding, but doesn't hiccup as much as it did before.) I also noticed that it bogs for just a second at light acceleration, like it takes the truck a second to figure out I just barely stepped on the gas.
I've replaced the IAC valve/motor as I was a little worried I had damaged it whenI tried to clean it before Iput it on my Fastman in July(no change). I have also checked the TPS and modded it to get a steady .73V (peppy throttle response, but still rough idle). Thisidle thing has been happening for quite a while and I can't seem to track it down.
2 questions,
YesterdayI installed a 6a box on the truck and I didn't have a chance to pull the plugs and regap them to .045, which is what I believe is generally recommended (so currently running .040 gap). What exactly is the benefit of opening the gap up more than stock?
I've noticed my idle is a little smoother and moderate to heavy acceleration is slightly smoother and faster, but I still have a slight wobbly idle (the rpms wobble by about 50 at idle and the engine isa little rough sounding, but doesn't hiccup as much as it did before.) I also noticed that it bogs for just a second at light acceleration, like it takes the truck a second to figure out I just barely stepped on the gas.
I've replaced the IAC valve/motor as I was a little worried I had damaged it whenI tried to clean it before Iput it on my Fastman in July(no change). I have also checked the TPS and modded it to get a steady .73V (peppy throttle response, but still rough idle). Thisidle thing has been happening for quite a while and I can't seem to track it down.
#2
12-06-2007, 11:47 PM
Record Breaker
RE: MSD 6a spark plug gap and rough idle
ORIGINAL: aim4squirrels
Hey all,
2 questions,
YesterdayI installed a 6a box on the truck and I didn't have a chance to pull the plugs and regap them to .045, which is what I believe is generally recommended (so currently running .040 gap). What exactly is the benefit of opening the gap up more than stock?
I've noticed my idle is a little smoother and moderate to heavy acceleration is slightly smoother and faster, but I still have a slight wobbly idle (the rpms wobble by about 50 at idle and the engine isa little rough sounding, but doesn't hiccup as much as it did before.) I also noticed that it bogs for just a second at light acceleration, like it takes the truck a second to figure out I just barely stepped on the gas.
I've replaced the IAC valve/motor as I was a little worried I had damaged it whenI tried to clean it before Iput it on my Fastman in July(no change). I have also checked the TPS and modded it to get a steady .73V (peppy throttle response, but still rough idle). Thisidle thing has been happening for quite a while and I can't seem to track it down.
Hey all,
2 questions,
YesterdayI installed a 6a box on the truck and I didn't have a chance to pull the plugs and regap them to .045, which is what I believe is generally recommended (so currently running .040 gap). What exactly is the benefit of opening the gap up more than stock?
I've noticed my idle is a little smoother and moderate to heavy acceleration is slightly smoother and faster, but I still have a slight wobbly idle (the rpms wobble by about 50 at idle and the engine isa little rough sounding, but doesn't hiccup as much as it did before.) I also noticed that it bogs for just a second at light acceleration, like it takes the truck a second to figure out I just barely stepped on the gas.
I've replaced the IAC valve/motor as I was a little worried I had damaged it whenI tried to clean it before Iput it on my Fastman in July(no change). I have also checked the TPS and modded it to get a steady .73V (peppy throttle response, but still rough idle). Thisidle thing has been happening for quite a while and I can't seem to track it down.
#3
12-07-2007, 04:38 AM
Captain
RE: MSD 6a spark plug gap and rough idle
A little off topic here but staying on the MSD path...I just got my blaster 3 coil and I'm doing what some people suggested to do awhile ago and I'm just installing the coil, no 6a box. Now the paper that came with it says that if you are doing a stock points ignition, like what I'm doing, that you need a ballast resistor but in the topic awhile back where people were saying to just buy the accel harness and blaster 3 coil, no one ever mentioned the ballast resistor. So what I'm wonderin really is does anyone that has the stock points ignition set up actually have a ballast resistor installed? or not? The answer is probably going to be yes but I figured I'd ask first just to see. The resistor is only 7 bucks and with a coupon I got for shucks I can probably get it for free.
#4
12-07-2007, 05:36 AM
RE: MSD 6a spark plug gap and rough idle
Unless i'm mistaken but on my hot rods the only way i needed to run a resistor is if there was a points ignition, and if i'm still not mistaken your ram should have electric ignition. So in my thought process you shouldn't need it anyways. But then again i'm still sorta new to this dodge creature and things seem to be differnt from time to time. I hope all was accurate and it is some help too you!
#5
12-07-2007, 11:40 AM
Record Breaker
RE: MSD 6a spark plug gap and rough idle
ORIGINAL: Eric99ram
A little off topic here but staying on the MSD path...I just got my blaster 3 coil and I'm doing what some people suggested to do awhile ago and I'm just installing the coil, no 6a box. Now the paper that came with it says that if you are doing a stock points ignition, like what I'm doing, that you need a ballast resistor but in the topic awhile back where people were saying to just buy the accel harness and blaster 3 coil, no one ever mentioned the ballast resistor. So what I'm wonderin really is does anyone that has the stock points ignition set up actually have a ballast resistor installed? or not? The answer is probably going to be yes but I figured I'd ask first just to see. The resistor is only 7 bucks and with a coupon I got for shucks I can probably get it for free.
A little off topic here but staying on the MSD path...I just got my blaster 3 coil and I'm doing what some people suggested to do awhile ago and I'm just installing the coil, no 6a box. Now the paper that came with it says that if you are doing a stock points ignition, like what I'm doing, that you need a ballast resistor but in the topic awhile back where people were saying to just buy the accel harness and blaster 3 coil, no one ever mentioned the ballast resistor. So what I'm wonderin really is does anyone that has the stock points ignition set up actually have a ballast resistor installed? or not? The answer is probably going to be yes but I figured I'd ask first just to see. The resistor is only 7 bucks and with a coupon I got for shucks I can probably get it for free.
if you install ss blaster 8207 alone then yes
If installing the Blaster SS Coil to a points distributor or a non-current limiting ignition
system without an MSD Ignition, a 0.8 ohm ballast resistor is required (MSD PN
8214). The resistor should wire in series along with any factory resistors on the positive
coil wire. Now the question is , is the stock ingition current ? or limited ignition ? or a non limited ignition ? ..
#6
12-07-2007, 01:12 PM
Captain
#7
12-07-2007, 05:44 PM
RE: MSD 6a spark plug gap and rough idle
ORIGINAL: padodgeram
cant answer your other problem , but i can answer your MSD question bigger gap is for more complete burn of the gas which returns slighty better HP , mpg... 01 factory is .040 i would gap it at .050 , .060 is the max gap... on my 96 factory gap is .035 right now im running at .045 , soon im gonna try .050 , .055 .060 always gap at .05 till you find the best burn on the plug , power , ect. , ect .. is your cap and rotor good ? brass caps ? plug wires ?only use certian plug wires with the MSD 6a.. (Heli-Core Ignition Wires )....even tho you dont need a ballest to use the coil with the msd 6a , you might need to use the msd #8910 Tach Adapter ....
cant answer your other problem , but i can answer your MSD question bigger gap is for more complete burn of the gas which returns slighty better HP , mpg... 01 factory is .040 i would gap it at .050 , .060 is the max gap... on my 96 factory gap is .035 right now im running at .045 , soon im gonna try .050 , .055 .060 always gap at .05 till you find the best burn on the plug , power , ect. , ect .. is your cap and rotor good ? brass caps ? plug wires ?only use certian plug wires with the MSD 6a.. (Heli-Core Ignition Wires )....even tho you dont need a ballest to use the coil with the msd 6a , you might need to use the msd #8910 Tach Adapter ....
I'll give .050 a try and see how she burns. Still can't figure out this rough idle, maybe its a ground problem.
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#8
12-07-2007, 05:50 PM
RE: MSD 6a spark plug gap and rough idle
Aim,
You know me and my stock habits. Maybe a different plug may be in order? Stock temp range?
Truck plugs?
Have you checked the pulgs for burn/wear? Maybe a bad cyl.,Inj., compression? I don't know, just throwing stuff out there. Did you have the idle problem before the fastman?
Say, just realized...you did the cps mod. Was this before or after?
WC
You know me and my stock habits. Maybe a different plug may be in order? Stock temp range?
Truck plugs?Have you checked the pulgs for burn/wear? Maybe a bad cyl.,Inj., compression? I don't know, just throwing stuff out there. Did you have the idle problem before the fastman?
Say, just realized...you did the cps mod. Was this before or after?
WC
#9
12-07-2007, 06:11 PM
#10
12-07-2007, 07:01 PM
Record Breaker