Hey guys, it's way past time for plugs and plug wires on my 2001 Quad-Cab 4x4. It's a 5.9. Thinking of total ignition system upgrade while I'm at it - what's worked well for some of you?

 

http://performancedistributors.com/p...s/dodge-truck/

 

I've got that setup, but they weren't packaging it as a kit when I bought it. I plugged in some NGK Laser Iridium IZFR6K13 spark plugs gapped at 0.058", and 24,000 miles later the gaps were still dead nuts where I put them and the porcelain color is just about perfect. I'm aiming to get 100,000 miles out of them.

Unless you're building a high RPM engine and are concerned about spark quench or are going to be knocking around at very high elevations where low RPM misfire can be a problem, you'll gain right about nothing for the upgrade. Our stock ignitions are unimpressive but they do get the job done very reliably.

 

Without any other changes to the system for HP/torque etc. you won't see any benefit. These stupid robust engines actually do well with the basic copper plugs, basic wires, basic copper rotor and cap. Factory coil is mostly robust too.

Stick with that sporty.

 

This. You can replace the whole ignition system, minus coil becuase it almost never goes bad, for 50 bucks.

Only thing I see that wears out is I have seen a couple rotors wear a groove in them but that makes for a pretty obvious miss

 

Great info guys. Thanks much. So if I'm just going to replace plugs and plug wires, would you just go back with Mopar components or is there something better?

 

Just some good copper plugs, some high quality plug wires, so you don't really have to worry about wire routing so much, and a brass terminal cap, and new rotor. Good brands are all you need. I run the Bosch super copper plugs, and I am happy with them.

 

I ran pulstars then yanked them as they fouled out. That was with the MSD and they were gapped at .050. ALthough at about 3800 RPM the truck would ping at WOT with the pusltars and the MSD. Without the Pulstars, running copper plugs and the MSD, I got no Ping.

Also, the Pulstars made my MPG go DOWN about 10%. If they burn the fuel better, then the PCM says "add more fuel."

My pinging was probably because of too much of a fuel trim for my custom tune. When I put in bigger injectors. Never got it reflashed, so I yanked the plugs and put in the accel u-grooves that came with the tune up kit.

Here is all you need to do:
1. Get "good" plug wires and route them correctly
2. Get copper plugs that are OE or OE standard. Although those if Unregistered saus those iridiums work well, I take his word. Iridiums and platinums seem to not work well with our trucks.
3. Get a brass terminal cap and rotor (summit sells some good ones with wires).

Using a MSD will cause you to run through cap rotor and plugs about 3x as fast. I usually can get 25-30K miles before I need to change the cap/rotor. I ust swapped out my cap and rotor 25K miles ago. After 25K miles of the MSD 6AL box, the rotor was zapped. Lost half of the contact area!!!

But having the MSD box makes for some oohs and ahhs by the noobs. People don;t know that the MSD boxed sold to the "public" are not the same as what they were cranking out when they started for race only applications.

 

Hay CPTAFW163, Are you running the msd box directly off the two coil wires? I could have sworn years ago there was an adapter to mate our truck to the msd box. I believe there was a resistance issue and could cause problems. ??? I did recent search but didn't find anything. I know there where changes in the msd6a over the years. Now they have the msd6a digital out now.

 

They'll only work properly with a coil capable of consistently firing them. The DUI Screamin' Demon will do the trick, but most won't. With no compelling reason to do it, though, it'd be pointless. The stock setup is just fine for most applications short of a big build.