To much spark energy

[Anonymous]

I have a 1966 200 with the mechanical/vacume advance distributor I am currently using the pertronix igniterII module and coil and MSD Supper Conductor wires. I was recently experimenting with the spark gap on the plugs and found that when i gapped the plugs over .05 that the spark started to ark through the cap rather the plug. I also noted that the spark was always an orange yellow color even when the plugs were gapped to .032; I thought that the ideal spark color was a blue purple color. Does anyone no where i can find a distributor cap with a higher dilectic strength; also out of frustration I coted the entire distributor cap with dilectic grease,when I did this I noticed that the coil was now arking.

help

 

[mhg]

electricity ALWAYS goes to ground by the path of least resistance
a cylinder under pressure with a spark plug gap of 35 to 40
has a higher resitance than than in open air
the only way to increase the the cap capacicty is to go to
a dsII distributor. this cap has a larger diameter so a farther distance
between contacts
as to the coil you have get one that has a taller tower
gaps larger than needed to fire the cyl. is not nessasarry
going above 40 gap is probably useless unless you have
a high comp. engine

 

[Anonymous]

Just a side note, the orange-yellow color is right on the money for plugs. Different additives can affect this in strange ways, but for any fuel I have used, it should be orange-yellow to brown.

 

[Anonymous]

I think he's talking about the color of the spark itself, not the color of the plugs.

 

[Lazy JW]

You have just discovered why the DS11 was developed, and ultimately why the (new?) distributorless system is so prevalent now. All of that high voltage is a fine thing, IF you can keep it where it belongs. The old style small diameter distributor caps really won't stand a lot of high voltage abuse. Just back the gaps down to a sane level, it will be fine. If your distributor cap is carbon tracked from the arcing, just run it through the dishwasher. I do this with mine regularly.
Joe

 

[Anonymous]

Oh...
The spark will only be blue under compression in the cylinder.