• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Resistor type vs non-resistor type spark plugs for 100-6

blueskies

Jedi Warrior
Country flag
Offline
The rebuilt 100-6 came with new NGK BP6ES spark plugs installed. They seem to work fine, but some say that a resistor type plug (NGK BR6ES or equivalent) is better.

Can anyone tell me what actual difference switching from a non-resistor plug to a resistor type plug may make? Is it better for power and for the engine health?

As a related question, it seems that many people now prefer Champion plugs over the NGK plugs. If so, what advantage will one likely see by switching to Champions, and which Champion plug would work best for this engine?

Thanks for any help with this.

Edit: I suppose it makes a difference if the plug wires are resistor wires or not - not sure what is on the car. Probably time to get out the multi-meter?
 

John Turney

Yoda
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Resistor plugs, wires or caps are only required to limit radio frequency interference. If you don't have a radio or a Pertronix, it's not a problem. If you do have one, or both of those, as Steve says, you only need one.

Champions are original; it you're going for Concours gold use Champions; if not, either is fine.

There has been some noise that NGK plugs are now made in India. NGK does make plugs in India for cars and trucks built in India. They also make plugs in Japan, USA and many other countries. If you buy them in the US, they were probably made in the US or Japan. It will say on the box.

I've run Champions for years, although I have NGKs in there now because I needed plugs on the road and the O'Reilly didn't have the appropriate Champions.
 
OP
B

blueskies

Jedi Warrior
Country flag
Offline
Thanks Steve and John. I went out and checked the spark plug wires. Packard 440 with zero resistance. So it has non-resistor plugs and non-resistor wires. No radio, no Pertronix, so no issues there.

There seems to be some conflicting information about this. I have, for example, heard someone claim that a non-resistor plug will deliver more voltage to the spark plugs, making more power. And then someone claims the opposite.
 

Keoke

Great Pumpkin
Country flag
Offline
Resistor plugs, wires or caps are only required to limit radio frequency interference. If you don't have a radio or a Pertronix, it's not a problem. If you do have one, or both of those, as Steve says, you only need one.

True:

However, if you reside in a densely populated area { Big City } a noisy ignition system can also :

open garage doors , set off car alarms , upset TV & Radio programming , to identify a few.
 
Country flag
Offline
My experience is that NKGs last significantly longer. This is only my un-scientific opinion. And as "7 of nine" says, "resistance is futile". I cannot hear the radio anyway especially with the top down.
 

Keoke

Great Pumpkin
Country flag
Offline
My experience is that NKGs last significantly longer. This is only my un-scientific opinion. And as "7 of nine" says, "resistance is futile". I cannot hear the radio anyway especially with the top down.

Yep:

But I have a passenger to entertain on long trips , so I have a modern AM / FM programmable radio that looks stock fitted with a headset so she can listen---
 
Country flag
Offline
I'm interested in what that radio is all about. And headphones for both ears? I have a period radio that sucks so I just have to listen to that "One Note Samba" aka, exhaust tone.
 

Joe Schlosser

Jedi Warrior
Silver
Country flag
Offline
what is the issue with Pertronix and resistor Plugs??
 

Keoke

Great Pumpkin
Country flag
Offline
I'm interested in what that radio is all about. And headphones for both ears? I have a period radio that sucks so I just have to listen to that "One Note Samba" aka, exhaust tone.

RADIO
Is a very early Kenwood knobbed stereo receiver with 50 Watts / Chnl I could not see the model # as it is on the case.

Speakers
Are mounted in foot well side panels where the structure forms a seal from the elements and i added absorbent padding over the inside of the structure to eliminate resonance , the speakers are high quality 5" triaxial units .

the receiver requires external speakers , adding a headset access was simple

Getting a modern receiver with knobs was difficult in the late 1900 's when i modified my car , but was one of the pacing items.
 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
what is the issue with Pertronix and resistor Plugs??

Pertronix specs resistor wires; no mention of resistor plugs.

screenshot.2238.jpg
 

Bob_Spidell

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Please don't tell my Pertronix with appox. 100K miles on stranded--assuming that's what they mean, I've never seen solid plug wires--plug wires (with resistor plugs). I presume they mean stranded copper without resistor terminals or plugs; I can't for the life of me figure out what the (potential) problem is, as the wires are electrically isolated from the Pertronix by the coil.
 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Please don't tell my Pertronix with appox. 100K miles on stranded--assuming that's what they mean, I've never seen solid plug wires--plug wires (with resistor plugs). I presume they mean stranded copper without resistor terminals or plugs; I can't for the life of me figure out what the (potential) problem is, as the wires are electrically isolated from the Pertronix by the coil.

I ran my Pertronix I for years using stranded metal wires, plain caps and resistor-or-not plugs -- with never any problem (no radio).

They're incompatible with the Pertronix II and maybe Pertronix decided metal wires weren't worth fooling with anymore.
 

Keoke

Great Pumpkin
Country flag
Offline
what is the issue with Pertronix and resistor Plugs??

Pertronix had a lot of issues when i visited them years ago'

MY position is I would not give up good reliable stranded copper spark plug wire for sting -resistor wires,

However , if you want to suppress electro magnet radiation from your ignition system then do as Steve
mentioned earlier of resistor wires, resistor caps or resistor plugs, you only need one
 

pdplot

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Worrying about spark plugs is like today's golfer who bought a new $500 driver with movable weights. I can promise you that with the first shot that goes into the woods, he'll be worrying about the position of the weights. Should he have moved it? Drivers have been without weights for 300 years and good golfers have been scoring low without them. Just one more variable to drive you crazy. If your car is running good, leave it alone. I've been fooling with these cars since 1954 and these cars thrive best with a little creative neglect. Carry a set of points, a condenser, maybe a coil and a fanbelt, a set of hand tools and you're good to go. And leave those SUs and Strombergs alone unless there are obvious problems. They are a simple and effective design.
 

Keoke

Great Pumpkin
Country flag
Offline
pdplot:

There will never be an electromechanical or mechanical device that will be more effective and reliable than an all Electronic one
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Jim_Stevens TR2/3/3A Ballast resistor to prevent hyperflashing Triumph 5
Michael Oritt LED bulb/resistor wiring question Austin Healey 24
GTP1960 TR2/3/3A Resistor plugs vs. non-resistor plugs? Triumph 6
NutmegCT ballast resistor Other Cars 10
A Ballast resistor Triumph 7
TulsaFred Ballast resistor Spridgets 28
regularman Ballast resistor mystery Spridgets 2
A ballast resistor 75 mgb FORUM Navigation Questions 0
A MGB ballast resistor 75 mgb MG 2
H Ballast resistor MG 9
RynoBoy74tr6 Ballast resistor location.... Triumph 10
19_again resistor MG 2
newmexTR3 TR2/3/3A Pertronix on TR3 Ballast Resistor or no? Triumph 3
J Tach resistor Spridgets 8
8 BALLAST RESISTOR???? Triumph 12
J Spitfire Spitfire Ballast Resistor Triumph 3
C Ballast Resistor Spridgets 34
B TR6 TR6 / Pertronix / Ballast Resistor / etc Triumph 13
RichC Primary Ballast Resistor Ignition? MG 1
H TR6 tr6 heater motor resistor Triumph 0
R Link to Ballast resistor wireing Jaguar 0
H MK2 lover, but... what about an E type? Jaguar 5
D TR2/3/3A layout for lap type seat belt Triumph 5
F For Sale E Type Series II front and rear bumpers good condition Jaguar Classifieds 0
5 Wanted Wanted 1966 mgb banjo type axle rear hub MG Classifieds 0
J For Sale Bilstein Front Shocks for Jaguar E-Type 727-498-6493 Jaguar Classifieds 0
71TR6 TR6 Type-J Overdrive identification Triumph 4
B Thread Type and Size of BN2 Intake/Exhaust Studs Austin Healey 0
Editor_Reid V-12 E-Type Body Number Location Jaguar 3
M For Sale 2017 Jaguar F-TYPE Premium 2-Door Convertible for Sale mlbirk@aol.com Jaguar Classifieds 0
K TR2/3/3A The Amco chrome tube type grille ....... Triumph 9
T TR2/3/3A A type overdrive hard engagement Triumph 36
S TR2/3/3A Wedge type and Dzus type side- curtains Triumph 1
R TR6 J-Type overdrive will not disengage when warm Triumph 8
6 E-Type brake light pressure switch location Jaguar 5
A SOLD!! TR3A Girling Type A brake caliper for right front Triumph Classifieds 0
M Front caliper rebuild 1970 Series 2 E-Type Jaguar 0
M General Tech J Type OD Stuck in OD - Fixed Triumph 2
ROARRR Is there any problem swopping in a 3.0 in place of the 2.5 L engine in my Jag X Type? Jaguar 0
M General TR Source for J Type O/D Solenoid Circlip Triumph 0
M Wanted Wanted: Inoperative J Type OD Solenoid! Triumph Classifieds 2
V vintage glue type for veneer? Sunbeam (Rootes) 13
Joel Lester TR2/3/3A What type of valve to use when rebuilding the head? Triumph 10
M TR6 Gear Oil Type and how to add 1973 TR6 Triumph 9
Basil Remember the Royal Electric E-Type Electric Upgrades of All Sizes 0
S TR2/3/3A lifter type Triumph 3
1 TR2/3/3A TR3 Fuel Pump Thread Type? Triumph 4
RonC TR2/3/3A J Type Overdrive in TR3A Triumph 4
M TR6 1973 TR6 Coolant Type? Triumph 5
R TR6 Clutch Master Cylinder Hydraulic Line (Thread / Flare Type) Triumph 4

Similar threads

Top