spark plug questions on S3C

[roulli]

Hi,

1) is there any tool to replace spark plug from cylinder 1 ( front right looking into driving direction), without removing the alternator and it's craddle? This craddle, when mounted, does not allow to put the nut on spark plug .

2)When I bought the car, it came with a set of rather new BERU ultraX spark plugs, the ones with the 4 electrodes. Did anybody try these on a S3C? Are they better than a good old standard NGK? Wat are 4 electrodes good for, if there can be only 1 discharge, thus 1 spark per cycle? (Exact typeof Beru is UXK 79 R6 023)
THX for sharing experience
Patrick

[Paceracing]

quote:Hi,

1) is there any tool to replace spark plug from cylinder 1 ( front right looking into driving direction), without removing the alternator and it's craddle? This craddle, when mounted, does not allow to put the nut on spark plug .

2)When I bought the car, it came with a set of rather new BERU ultraX spark plugs, the ones with the 4 electrodes. Did anybody try these on a S3C? Are they better than a good old standard NGK? Wat are 4 electrodes good for, if there can be only 1 discharge, thus 1 spark per cycle? (Exact typeof Beru is UXK 79 R6 023)
THX for sharing experience
Patrick

Patrick,
1) You can buy slightly shorter spark plug sockets from Draper. Mine fits after a bit of jiggling about but you have to undo the final few turns by hand after removing the socket.

2) NGK plugs are generally regarded as excellent. A lot of my motor racing friends use them and swear by them. The 4 electrode plugs i.e. Bosch 4's are a bit of a waste of money IMO. As you correctly said, the spark only discharges to one electrode at a time. The only possible benefit is slightly longer life, but since TVR owners usually get their cars serviced regularly, this is not an issue. I remeber an article in Car & Car Conversions which surmised that the claims about improved economy and enhanced performance were not necessarilly true for the circumstances they were evaluating in on a particular car.

Jas.

[s3 bob]

I found that if you undo the bolt on the alternator cradle, that it just gave enough to get the spark plug socket on.
Also, I used a Halfords half inch drive socket, but I think I noticed that the three eights drive one was slightly smaller in diameter which may help.

[roulli]

THanks for your hints Jas and Bob.
I'll try that and machine the socket until it will work.
Patrick