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sohc boosted owners! spark plug question

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Old 01-17-2002, 09:54 AM
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Default sohc boosted owners! spark plug question

Hey guys, I've been running my stock plugs & stock gap for some time now but i think it's time to upgrade the plugs, or at least replace them. The thing is, i've read and heard sooooo many different opinions on what i should get and what i should do (from this site, from other sites, from conversations, etc...)

I have a 98 Civic EX with the stock sohc motor (stock internals)
92-95 greddy sohc turbo kit w/ IC running 5psi (am going to up to 7psi)
RC 270cc injectors / upgraded fuel pump
V-AFC
MSD6BTM & blaster cap & coil
stock fpr (soon to be a B&M fpr to lower idle fuel pressure)

anyway, i've heard everything from getting stock plugs, to getting 2 steps colder, etc...

Car hardware

replace the oil inlet at the top of the turbo with a good EARL'S or AEROQUIP fitting!!!
The other issue is you probably have is the plugs gap them around .032 or .034 use 2 steps colder

I do know for sure that I should be using ZFRxF (for sohc) instead of BKRxE (for dohc). The question is, is the amount of boost i'm running (max 7psi) enough to need 1 step colder let alone 2 steps colder? I was honestly just going to put in NGK-ZFR6F and gap them to .035, but is that even necessary. like i said, i've been running the stock plugs (which i think are NGK-ZFR5F-11) without a lot of problems for several months.

also, if i do go colder with a smaller gap, do i need to retune the VAFC? is it going to make any difference?

thanks all and sorry so long!
Old 01-17-2002, 10:01 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (brcivic411)

Whenever you're introducing compressed air (and it's inherited heat), I think it VERY wise to run a little "insurance" with colder plugs. I was using BCPR6E-11's when I first got turbo'd. Good for what I was usuing (5-7psi), now at 10psi, I use BCPR7E-11's and run fine. Me personally, i'd play it safe and go at least one step colder..
Old 01-17-2002, 11:20 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (VTC_CiViC)

i agree... what did u have your plugs gapped to? did u keep them @ .044?
Old 01-17-2002, 12:24 PM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (brcivic411)

Stock gap
Old 01-17-2002, 12:32 PM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (VTC_CiViC)

I have heard the gap recommended to .34 for a turbo.
Old 01-17-2002, 12:34 PM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (97CivicFerio)

Yea i've heard the same, I think I'm gonna give it a try too..
Old 01-17-2002, 12:35 PM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (VTC_CiViC)

My NGK 7 series are on the way! I will gap em down to .34 so they will be all set to pop in when I install the turbo!
Old 01-17-2002, 01:22 PM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (97CivicFerio)

I ran my kit for a month at 5.5 psi with stock plugs, BCPR5ES, and they burned
perfectly but that might be risky depending on the air/fuel ratio you are getting,
octane rating, etc. Mine was running a little on the rich side.

I changed the plugs to BCPR7ES's and gapped them to .34. At 5.5 psi, my plugs fouled a lot quicker. Solution, turn up the boost, At 7-8 psi, the car runs great and the plugs look good too.

BTW, that post on ClubSi regarding BKRs and ZFRs http://forums.clubsi.com/ubb/Forum12/HTML/009866.html does not have anything to do with our SOHC's. They were referring to the bogus advice people were giving for quite a while to other DOHCers to use ZFR plugs. Some people there were also recommending ZFR's to SOHCers, which is wrong too. Use BCPR plugs.



[Modified by turbod97ex, 4:27 PM 1/17/2002]
Old 01-17-2002, 03:21 PM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (turbod97ex)

with stock plugs regapped to .030", I gained almost 4 whp and 5 ft. lbs of torque!



once I did that, it didn't hesitate as much at low rpm's.

later,

aj
Old 01-17-2002, 11:16 PM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (ajn)

What are you boosting now AJ?
Old 01-18-2002, 05:07 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (turbod97ex)

I changed the plugs to BCPR7ES's and gapped them to .34. At 5.5 psi, my plugs fouled a lot quicker. Solution, turn up the boost, At 7-8 psi, the car runs great and the plugs look good too.

BTW, that post on ClubSi regarding BKRs and ZFRs http://forums.clubsi.com/ubb/Forum12/HTML/009866.html does not have anything to do with our SOHC's. They were referring to the bogus advice people were giving for quite a while to other DOHCers to use ZFR plugs. Some people there were also recommending ZFR's to SOHCers, which is wrong too. Use BCPR plugs.
[Modified by turbod97ex, 4:27 PM 1/17/2002]
now i'm confused cause the NGK site has the SOHC plugs as ZFR5F-11, so wouldn't that mean ZFRs were made for the SOHC VTEC engine? I read that post of the Clubsi.com site but didn't glean that much info.. what is the difference then between BCPR7ES's & ZFR5F's?? I was thinking to first just run 6s since I have my boost @ 5psi, but since I put the IC on, I'm thinking of upping to 7psi which might require 7s.

Finally, where can I get these plugs online?

Thanks,
bryan
Old 01-18-2002, 05:09 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (ajn)

with stock plugs regapped to .030", I gained almost 4 whp and 5 ft. lbs of torque!
Talk about a decent free mod!!!! I really don't have the patience to fine tune the plug gap. i've been told many times that i need to gap them around .028.. then gradually increase the gap until the car missfires.. to see where the optimum gap is.
Old 01-18-2002, 05:56 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (brcivic411)

Nippon Power sells the BKR7E for the 92-2000 Civic DX, EX. Is this not correct? I ordered a set of them, thinking they were 2 stage colder plugs.
Old 01-18-2002, 07:48 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (97CivicFerio)

http://www.clubplug.net or .com

$20 for 10 BCPR7E's
Old 01-18-2002, 08:42 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (VTC_CiViC)

i went to clubplug.net to look @ some BCPR7Es.. but I have a question. What's the difference between:

BCPR7E
BCPR7ES
BCPR7ET (expensive)
BCPR7EY
BCPR7EY-N

Old 01-18-2002, 09:50 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (brcivic411)

Not the slightest idea... I just went with the ones the guys who installed my turbo used which was the BCPR6E, except I went an extra step colder and got the 7. If anybody else knows what those different plugs are, I'd like to know as well..
Old 01-18-2002, 11:07 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (VTC_CiViC)

Go to this link http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinf...tnumberkey.pdf and check out the differnt part number definitions.
Bryan, I use the BCPR's because it is the one the shop I bought my turbo kit from said to use. I compared it to my stock plugs I replaced them with and they were very similar.
Old 01-19-2002, 07:44 AM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (turbod97ex)

What are you boosting now AJ?
hey steve,

I just made my $5 boost controller yesterday and it looks like I am running 7.5 lbs of boost. It pulls real hard and there is huge difference between 5.5 psi and 7.5 psi. I hope to get the car dynoed soon. I am trying to get a group of guys together so we can rent the space up at Extreme Motorsports for the day.

later,

aj
Old 01-19-2002, 02:15 PM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (brcivic411)

hey man i use these spark plugs on both of my rides BCPR6EY and gap them to .038
these spark plugs are from an 86-89 integra and they work great...i use OEM ignition wires, distributor cap and rotor. i believe honda ignition is great and enought to handle all the firings i need to blow the rest of you guys away.....


[Modified by jjgotboost, 11:20 PM 1/19/2002]
Old 01-21-2002, 07:28 PM
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Default Re: sohc boosted owners! spark plug question (jjgotboost)

i am running JRSC on a mini-me controlled by zdyne gold ecu
currently 12psi ansd was having ignition cross-fire from5500-6300
tried several plugs and gap combos but the only thing
to cure this was installing ZEX spark plugs....no more problems
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