Posting here because the results come from pushing the limits.

Starting with the current state of the beast:




Now for the snack. #1 spark plug. All others looked ok, but it'* very obvious I need to go to colder plugs from what I saw on #2-#6.





This is what happens when your octane doesn't match your boost levels. Or when you hammer it with non-premium fuel. Or when you push the limits of boost with too 'warm' of plugs.

Regardless, these plugs went in the car during WCBF, the day before the first track day, and have less than 1000 miles total on them.

IIRC, I thought you had a bad valve spring? Mkay then, boy do those plugs look baaad.

I THOUGHT I had a broken spring from the noise. None found broken on the front bank so far. Rear is still intact.

2 springs from the #3 cylinder were only removed for measurements. These heads are coming off shortly for work.

Maintenance or something extra?

Not gonna work, Mike. Not even if you show me a little leg.

Nothin like a little head eh Bill.
Them spark plugs have ATLEAST 10,000 left in them...
God damn!

Bill...Looks like you found your problem. This should serve as a lesson that we should pull and look these things over to find the cylinder that is having an issue before condeming a spring or valve.

Well done on that first plug though.

Bill, bad spark plugs don't make the kind of noise this thing made. That wasn't my problem. Only a symptom.

How much colder of a spark do you believe you need?


Bill remeber your car also ate a rubber groment from your water injection when it was in the air filter :P

I need 3 colder right now. Not two like I am. And NGK discontinued the TR7 (or so NAPA tells me) which means I'll be moving to Autolites in the spring.