4.5 Spark Plug Gap

[nathanyork]

Ok, my 4.5 starts to foul plugs when driving in town for long periods of time, but giving it an interstate blow out cleans them up and it runs fine again. My local MB tech who also runs a 4.5 himself told me that his car always did the same thing, so he only runs W9DC Bosch supers instead of the W7DC that the book recommends. I am guessing since they are a hotter plug? Ok, so I bought some and thought I would put them in tonight. Anyone know what gap the should be set at?

[Gilly]

.032" (0.8mm)

Gilly

[Gilly]

Hey, you have a Bugeye?! I got a 62 Sprite (spridget body style, but still the 948 engine and smoothcase tranny, and no door handles or fold down top, so it's still alot like a Bugeye. 4 wheel drum brakes too). She's in pieces, I just picked up a few more engine parts today at Worldwide Auto Parts in Madison, very well-known LBC parts supplier.

Gilly

[psfred]

Yipes, I've not seen a Bugeye for eons -- a family friend of ours had one back in the early 60s -- totally cool car.

Unless there was a truck on the road, too....

Peter

[Tomguy]

Gilly: You sure about that? I seem to recall my owner's manual or emission's manual (don't recall which) saying about 0.025"

[Gilly]

Yes, pretty darn sure.

Gilly

[Tomguy]

Well, I don't doubt that you got that information from a source, but I got mine from a source too - The "Owner's Emission Systems Manual" for "Passenger Car Models 280 SE 4.5" (and 280 SEL 4.5, 300 SEL 4.5, and 350 SL)

0.6mm! That's what mine are set to. Perhaps I should use 0.8mm instead?

[nathanyork]

Uh Oh! Now I really don't know what to do.....

Yeah, I have a Bugeye. I restored it from the ground up just under 2 years ago. Go to these two addresses to see pictures of it and my other cars.

http://www.santiagosc.com/Bugeye%20Blue.htm

http://www.santiagosc.com/Personal%20Page.htm


Unfortunately I am going to sell it. Just too many cars, and I need to get more realistic with my lifestyle before the wife and I have little ones! I had a 62 Midget just like yours as my first car. They are lots of fun!
I sell British cars for a living, and out of all the more exotic cars we sell, I really have much more fun in the little underpowered Sprites, Midgets and Minis.

[Tomguy]

Can anyone shed light on this for me? I'd like to know if I should open my plugs more! (Better power and economy I'd imagine!)

[kip Foss]

My Haynes manual says 0.8mm.

[hill]

If it has points (ignition), copper plugs at .032.