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MG MGB Technical - Coil, Plugs & Leads

Im currently about to replace the Coil, Plugs and Leads on my 74 Chrome Bumper GT and was wondering which was the best set up to use for these components. I already have electronic ignition (the type that is hidden in the cap and NOT Lumentron type) and was thinking of upgrading to a Lucas Sports Coil (DLB105) too. Does anyone have any tips of good plugs and HT leads to use here, is it best to stick to brands like Champion, NGK etc.

Any info gratefully recieved, cheers
John

Get silicone-cored leads in preference to the original carbon-string type, they last almost indefinitely IME. I've currently got 4-electrode plugs in but can't say thet they are any better than the standard Champion/NGK, just a damn sight more expensive. A Sport coil will allow you to open the plug gaps a little for a bigger spark, but going too far may cause HT breakdown elsewhere. If you are changing plugs, leads and coil just for the hell of it you should replace the cap and rotor as well, particularly if you do open up the plugs.
Paul Hunt

Agree with all Paul says, but go for NGK or Bosch plugs in my opinion. I've had several plug failures over the years with Champion.
Mike Howlett

Good point. One set of Champions I had, possibly the last, had insulator ridges with flat faces and sharp angles instead of the curved ridges I had been used to. The first time I took them out to check the gaps the insulators on three of them broke off - the first (and only) plug breakage I have had in over 30 years.
Paul Hunt

Thanks Paul for your info, with a Sports Coil how far can you then open up the plugs? Have you noticed any improvement in doing this?

cheers
John

Funny about the Champion plugs. I've always run NGK's, and recently decided to give the old Champion N9Y a try, I was pulling the plugs to check colloration, and snap, off broke the lead end of the plug. Never happened to me before. what gives, is this a design flaw, quality control or what.
Next set will be back to NGK's.
Bill
Bill Mertz

I think you can safely open them to .030 to .035 at a max.
Luis

John - the gap for the standard 6v coil opened up to .035, a Sport can go a little more than that.

Bill - if yours have the same shape of ridges as mine then I say it is a design flaw, a sharp angle being more likely to fracture than a curve.
Paul Hunt

I'm running Bosch Platinums.36 gap with a pertronix coil & kit and MSD wires
Very happy with the improvement
I had a very bad exoerience with autolite plugs earlier this spring when I got my B DPO had installed them and as I went to change them to Bosch one snapped off at the head reqiring me to pull the head to get it out
Ron Looye

The only plugs I have never heard a single complaint about was NGK. I use them exclusively in my B's. Have the Lucas Sports coil, and NGK's opened to .035. Works well for me, but slightly more rapid points wear, which is not an issue with pointless! ignition system.
Paul K

This thread was discussed between 17/09/2002 and 19/09/2002

MG MGB Technical index

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