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!

 

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..

 

i agree... what did u have your plugs gapped to? did u keep them @ .044?

 

Stock gap

 

I have heard the gap recommended to .34 for a turbo.

 

Yea i've heard the same, I think I'm gonna give it a try too..

 

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!

 

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]

 

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

 

What are you boosting now AJ?

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

$20 for 10 BCPR7E's

 

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

 

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..

 

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.

 

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

 

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]

 

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