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Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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1/08/2002
12:29:11

Subject: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Hi all, I have been on this site for a while now and you have helped me bring my truck from a typical driver to a nice ride.
I need your help once again with my 1990 Dakota, 2wd V6, K&N intake, Edleb. headers, Flowmaster duals, jacobs ignition coil.

I just bought A JACOBS OMNI MAGNUM Ignition system. I also bought a set of Jacobs 8.5mm high performance spark plug wires. this all adds to my jacobs ing. coil. OK, The question. What size spark Plugs do I need. Brand, gap, etc. I hear many of you talking about Autolight plugs. I just want the best plugs to go with my ing. system to maxiumize my HP, MPg increase.
thanks to all.
Joe E.



kurt
Dodge Dakota
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1/08/2002
12:38:22

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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i would say the autolites would be the way to go. but you might want to ask some of the others if they know if they would do you harm or do you good with your ignition coil and that. they helped me.and i have a 97 ext cab 4x4 w/5.2v8 mopar performance k&n cold air intake,gibson cat back duals/borg warner cap and rotor and taylor spiro pro 8mm wires,and robert shaw 180%t-stat and the autolite plugs. hope this helps.

kurt



Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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1/08/2002
12:58:47

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Thanks Kurt, any info is helpful. With these plugs, exp: Autolite 3925's or what ever the heck it is, do you buy the plugs and gap them yourself, or can you buy a Autolite plug that is gapped .55 instead of .35? thanks for your help.
Joe E.



CThomp
Dodge Dakota
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1/08/2002
13:02:32

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Hey Joe E. You live out in La Belle right? If so do you know anyone who would want to buy a set of 15x7 alloys off a 2000 Dak. They are the 5 star variety. They have a set of 235/65-15's Excentia BFG's with about 5,000 miles on them. They are 50,000 mile tires. I just got my new rims in (16x8 mopars) and am looking to sell them hear locally so I don't have to deal with shipping anything. I'm thinkin $500 for all 4.



kurt
Dodge Dakota
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1/08/2002
16:06:35

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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hey joe not real sure about the gap thing i checked mine when i got them and i think they were close to what i wnated to i just left them at what they where. and i think that the numbers are 3923 but i might be wrong on that some of the other guys use diffrent plugs and i went with what most of them told me to go with.if there is anything else i can do to help just let me know.

kurt



Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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1/08/2002
16:17:42

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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CThomp, I will check around here and see if I can find anyone. OK? I think I would stick the things in Bargin Trader. I have done that in the last few months and it worked well. But I will still ask around for ya.

Kurt, thanks for the help. I know there is a specific tool one can buy for the plug gaping. i was hoping that I could go to NAPA or something and say I needed Autolite 3923 plugs with a .55 gap and tada, there they are. I will look into that in the few coming days.
Thanks again for your help.
Joe E.



kurt
Dodge Dakota
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1/08/2002
16:49:20

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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hey joe hows it going ok here i guess just got off the phone from a agravating call to advanced auto parts. man the people they have working at these places are stupid at least in my area.they didnt even know what i ment by spark plug gap.and then they try to tell me i cant run those plugs in my truck.so i said whatever. but anyway i got some info for you from them they said the plugs come gapped at .40 and are $1.18 a piece. then i called the little auto parts store where i got my cap and rotor and 3923 plugs and he checked the gap on 1 and he said his was .45 and he said some of them very in gap and would be best to check each one they cost like $7.00 for 6 of them and the gap gauge usually cost anywhere from like $3 or 4 and up higher.well hope this helps you out if you need anything else just let me know. talk to you later.

kurt



Joe E.
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1/08/2002
19:41:12

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Kurt, I really appreciate your effort. Thank you so much. So it sounds like an autolite 3923 purchase. I will look into this tomarrow. Thanks again Kurt, maybe someday I can help you out!
Joe E.



2THEXTRM
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1/08/2002
22:03:01

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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You will probably find that you will need to experiment with plug gaps, you would usually start at .05-.10 larger of a gap with this system. Autolites with your Jacob's Electronic Ignition system may not be the best choice, I have found that anything other than platinum tipped plugs have a very short life, approximately 4-8K before the electrode is destroyed causing bad idle and peformance. I had the Custom Pro-street set-up on my 99 3.9 add tried many different plug gaps using Bosch Platinum with varied results, any other questions, let me know via email or post here. Good Luck!

Flowmaster stainless cat back, Air Raid CAD and homemade TB connect, Splitfire Plugs, 33x11.50-16's

Roby
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1/09/2002
00:25:01

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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This might have been said oin the post but i kind of skimmed through the page. The 3923's come gapped at .40 as the best that I could tell (I checked the gap on them before I put them in). My next step is a cap and rotor and some new wires but I'm in no hurry to get them. Oh yeah anyway, gapping plugs is the easiest thing in the world, and the gapping tool is like 99 cents. later
Roby



Me
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2002
09:43:19

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Make sure you check the gap on each & every plug. They go through alot of abuse in shipping. Oh, I know they are in a box but the boxes get thrown around alot. Don't believe me? Just look at the way the people at UPS, the airlines, etc. handle your stuff. It isn't theirs, they don't have to pay for it, so therefore they don't worry about it.



kurt
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2002
10:51:41

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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hey joe no problem on the help. just like to share the info and all that and maybe you can help me sometime.

KURT



Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2002
15:10:33

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Guys, thanks. I am in your debt. This weekend I, and my family are so busy. I start college classes this week. My 4th semister, and we are haveing a 90th B-Day party of my Grandmother. We are having around 100 guests (40 family, 60 firends) But I am trying to get to the parts store asap. I will look into those autolite3923 plugs and get on of those gaping tools.
What are the stock gap size on a 1990 3.9L? I guess I can look at them when I take them out huh. I will start buy gaping them .10 larger than stock. Maybe I will change plugs soon, but I will start with the autolite. Not going ot be out alot of cash. haha! See how that goes and them in the next few weeks, when things slow down, I will get further in depth.

Other than autolite, what higher quality plugs would you all recomend? 2THEXTRM, what did you finally run? Thanks for the help and yall have a nice day.
Joe E.
Thanks again Kurt.



2THEXTRM
GenIII
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1/09/2002
16:28:38

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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I put the Jacob's System on at about 2K when truck was new and went through about 3-4 sets of autolites, I used the Bosch Platinum's for over 10K until I traded truck in with 25,000 miles with no noticeable drop in peformance/mpg unlike autolites. Jacob's does not recommend using platinum tip plugs given the extra resistance although once the right gap was found, I found no difference from the autolites other than they held up better. If I recall correctly(but don't quote me), stock gap was like .35 and I ended up using .45-.50 with Bosch plugs. Every engine may require a different gap to obtain optimum peformance from the Jacob's system it's best to start at about .10 over stock and increase in increments of .05 until peformance or mileage drops off and then return to the last plug gap. You should then be able to use the same gap everytime if same plugs are you used at each changing. Also, one other thing, don't be suprised if the rough idle that plagues 3.9's and the other magnum engines is not corrected. Mine was only a little bit smoother with everything set-up right, mpg may increase, you should get better throttle response and low end torque. I actually was not impressed with the final results given the cost and fine tuning required, so I hope you have better luck!!

Flowmaster stainless cat back, Air Raid CAD and homemade TB connect, Splitfire Plugs, 33x11.50-16's

Roby
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2002
19:34:25

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Joe E. Don't get the gap from the plugs you take out of the truck, they can be off. Check the owners manuel. I used the recomended .04 gap cuz I don't have an aftermarket ignition. Since doing so my truck seems sluggish on the bottom end, but that could be/probally is my imagination.
Roby



Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2002
20:34:13

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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All right guys, I am trying to ingest all this info. Thank you all for your help. Like I said before, I am totally busy this weekend but Monday, here I come parts store. So if you have any things else you could help me with, please do, but thank you all for your help.

So whats the deal, Bosch platinum? What about those 2,3,or4 pronged plugs? Whats up with those.
Thanks all,
Joe E.



Roby
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2002
20:44:24

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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This is how I was told, the platnium plugs is mainly for longer life. Alot of the new vehicles do better with copper core plugs, like the autolites. That's what i know I don't know about the multi pronged plugs so I'm not going to guess.



BigHank
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2002
21:19:03

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Just thought I would let you know my experience with plugs in our '97 3.9 auto 4x4 CC. I've used Bosch Plat+4 plugs for a couple years now and have mixed results. They do last seemingly forever but they were to COLD for our Dak! After a few thousand miles running them in our Dak we noticed it was HARDER to start, didn't perform as well and I was going what the...anyway I pulled the Plat+4 out and they were COLD FOULED...put new Champ Copper in and now it runs GREAT! Anyway to get to my point the Plat+4 would probably be a great plug for a modified engine/ignition combo.
Another note: the part number for the Bosch Plat+4 plugs (4418) that fit 3.9/5.2/5.9 Magnums also use the same part number for reccomened plugs in our '97 Neon which comes with COLDER plugs from the factory than our Dak!



kurt
Dodge Dakota
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1/09/2002
22:48:46

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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hey joe glab i could be of some asistants to you hope here from you another time. heres my email address kurteicher@hotmail.com drop me an email sometime and we can chat about daks and all that. later and good luck Kurt



shawn casey
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1/10/2002
01:27:29

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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I ahve the Jacobs Pro Street ignition system with Autolite 5224 plugs and the gap is set to .50 and the combo works great I have heard alot about the 3923 plugs and am interested in comparing them hell plugs are pretty cheap.

Casey

2001 R/T clubcab:Jacobs Pro Street ignition, K&N Gen II induction, Magnum Performance Gen II Stage TB, Gibson headers, Flowmaster 50 series muffler, royal purple lubes.



Joe E.
Dodge Dakota
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1/10/2002
21:27:25

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Hi again, Thanks to all who responded. I have got alot of info from this and it has put me in a good direction. I am still not sure which plugs I will go with. I will most likely have to play around alittle with em before I can set my soul on one set. I thought I would get a set of the Autolite 3923, increase the gap .10 and see what happens. I will prob. also get a set of the Bosch Platinum plugs and try those. Will see which ones tend to be the "best" for my truck.

It seems that there have been a variety of expierences with plugs. But I still hear alot about Bosch, Autolite, Champion. None on Spit fire though. Any comments on those.

Kurt, my email is joelliott82@hotmail.com
That would be cool to chat about our fav Daks.
Thanks for all the help.
Have a nice friday. yeah!!!!!!
Joe E.



2THEXTRM
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1/10/2002
21:35:36

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Didn't mention that I did try splitfires with the Jacob's system for less than a week and it idled terrible so I sold them to my friend for his Dak with stock ignition and they ran good. I have splitfires in my 4.7 with stock ignition and they work fantastic. Guess they do not like the higher voltage!

Flowmaster stainless cat back, Air Raid CAD and homemade TB connect, Splitfire Plugs, 33x11.50-16's

Roby
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1/10/2002
23:26:32

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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I had splitfires in all my other means of transportation, 4 wheeler, dirtbike, streetbike. Frickin awesome.
Roby




92dakotahd
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1/10/2002
23:49:18

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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Hey! This has been a fascinating thread, I have a 92 Dak CC v6 with as yet stock ignition components. Does anyone know a fairly proven formula and about how much it will cost all around? I'm curious. I'm a POOR College student but around holidays and near my birthday any and all $$ earned goes to my baby. If anyone could help it would be appreciated. Thanks!



2THEXTRM
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1/11/2002
07:56:10

RE: HELP!, info needed on spark plugs buy.
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From the threads I have read over the last 4 months, I believe the MSD-6A and Blaster Coil is a good upgrade for your stock ignition at a reasonable price if you don't mind cutting a couple wires to install. You can usually find a used MSD-6A on ebay for $50-$100 beans instead of $150+ new and the Coil you can get from Summit or Jegs for less than $50 I think. A new set of 8mm spark plug wires should be installed at the same time to obtain max performance and handle increased spark voltage, probably cost around $50 for custom fit set at Jegs or Summit. Just a thought, but I would suggest you even check locally for pricing before you lay out the $$, sometimes they can beat internet pricing since sales tax is usually cheaper on $100 or less purchases than shipping. You can use the thread search function on this website for keywords "MSD" or "Ignition" and probably find all you will need to research before you buy!

Flowmaster stainless cat back, Air Raid CAD and homemade TB connect, Splitfire Plugs, 33x11.50-16's

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