Ask your spark plug, wires and coil questions here
 

I've decided to make an "ignition" thread.

and post up answer's to the more commonly asked questions.

Do I need to upgrade my coil?

Simply put.... No
Stock coils will provide enough spark to support over 700whp. The average 4 tower coil will put out between 36-40k volts most aftermarket coils put out only 42k MAX. You will not see any gains what so ever by swapping out a working stock coil for an aftermarket one.

Do I need to go with those really expensive plugs?

Again.... No

Unless you have a HEAVILY Modded (MORE THAN BOLT ONS) engine there is no need to use any other plug than STOCK. You CAN re-gap the stock plugs to .060 (in most cases) and you will get a smoother idle and the overall running of the car will be improved... but just slightly. When you open up the gap it take MORE voltage to jump the gap and make spark.. therefore wider the gap the hotter the spark.

Now if you are running Nitrous of Forced Induction then yes you can benefit from changing plugs. I highly recommend the MotorCraft AZFS22C f4 sparkplugs. They are copper cored (which is one of the BEST conductors of electricity.. better than Iridium) and will provide a wider,stronger spark. They also work VERY well with NA engines,and at $8 a set you cant go wrong.

Should I change plug wires?

Yes

Changing your plugs wires is problely the most effective ignition upgrade you can do on a Focus. Any descent low resistance wire is MILES beyond the stock wires... I can not say how much I despise stock wires for there inability to carry good voltage. Remember the bigger the wire the better... smaller wires will heat up internally and heat greatly reduces their ability to conduct electricity.


Well thats your basic ignition questions covered... feel free to ask any questions that you have.

John

great thread! now it needs a sticky!!!!!!!!

I can do that....... let me wave my magic wand.... sprinkle some fairy dust.... and abera cadabera [poof] now its a sticky!!!

LOLZ! you having fun tonight john????? can i have some fairy dust! i wanna make a turbo kit and built motor appear!

NO Egman... My Fairy Dust!!! <---- Cheap Cartman immatation

The new part number for the copper Motorcrafts is: SP-463
Some Dealers and Parts Stores will be able to cross reference to the old AZF--- number, but if not, use the new one.

I'd also add, that NA cars do extremely well with the Motorcraft copper plugs.
They're cheaper, and provide better spark than the stock platinums.
More often than not when it's time to change plugs, members are using the copper plugs.

As far as openning the gap to .060.
That's generally done when swapping in the Motorcraft copper plugs,
and not neccessarily with the factory platinum plugs.
Openning the gap also goes hand in hand with swapping in better plug wires.

Actually I have done the .060 gap on the plats with very good results in several other Foci.

Just picked up the Motorcraft Copper Plugs today, along with a fuel filter.

Wasn't really planning on wires, but since I'll be tearing into it anyway,

What Wires are recommended?

and,,,

Got a link on a supplier by chance?

TIA[thumb]

I really like the Taylor wires:
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=55133
^^^Lots of pics and links in the latter half of the thread.

Actually I have done the .060 gap on the plats with very good results in several other Foci.
That's good to know. [;)]
I'm just personally not a fan of the platinums, especially when considering the performance to price ratio.

Ordered a set from Summit today. The 8.2mm RED wires. $46 and change plus the $10 'Handling' charge. [confused]

Lots of good info on the link you provided - Thanks!

Now I can't wait to get them installed with the new plugs![wrenchin]

Anything special I need to know about changing these plugs/wires? Special Tools?
I've been changing them for years on OHV V6's/V8's/V10's, but this will be my first on a Twin-Cam engine.