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Platinum plugs

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Guinn

Guinn

Jedi Warrior
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Does anyone know whether platinum plugs are desired or recommended for use in the 78B with electronic ignition? When I picked up mine it had the platinum plugs installed but the local foreign car shop said not to use them. They also said a few other things that leads me to believe they are not very knowledgable about MGs, so am looking to the ones who really should know!
 
Platinum plugs will work nicely in your MGB. You won't see much difference in performance, but they resist fouling so cold starting and idling may be a bit better. The only down side is the additional cost....but that's not any big deal.
 
Thanks, Earonca. Do you use the platinum plugs? How do you gap them compared to standard plugs?

Guinn
 
Guinn, gapping platinum plugs can be done using standard techniques. If you have electronic ignitions and uprated coils gaps up to 0.040" can be used.Each engine needs to be checked at each gap setting over the increased gap range for best performance.__FWIW---Keoke
 
MGs are funny about plugs. Some like Plats, others DON'T. Try 'em out. My 77B with ei loved 'em, but that's the only B I've had that liked them. If your car doesn't like them, use something else.

And yes, if you have ei and a strong coil, gap out to 35 or 40.
 
Yeah, I use platinum plugs in my present street car (but it's a Miata) and have also used them with good results in a street Sprite (with points.....I gapped at about 0.028"). For an MGB with electronic ignition (like your MGB) I'd do the same as the other guys above using around 0.035" gap with platinum plugs.
I use 0.035" gap in my racing Spridget (with Pertronix ignition and a good coil), but I don't use platinum plugs since I change them anyway about every 200 miles or so.
 
Thanks again, all. Will re-install the plats and see if my stalling on take-off improves. I don't expect anything but it would be nice!

Guinn
 
Hi Guinn. I've been following your post and I'm with the other guys; I think the plats will be fine. It is only in your last post that you mentioned your actual problem though, the stalling on take-off. If that's the problem, and you're looking at the plugs, I think you're headed in the wrong direction. Stalling on take off is usually either a problem of engine timing or carburetion, more usually the latter. For my time, that's where I would start.
 
Stalling or bogging down on take off sounds more like a carb problem than a spark plug or ignition problem - unless maybe your plugs are REALLY shot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I think you guys are probably right. I need to re-set the idle speed up a bit - it is at about 700 now - and let it warm up more before driving. I think I may just be rushing things. Got too used to "modern" cars, I guess!

Guinn
 
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