Spark plug and other general questions

[svensko]

I tried search and all I got was a blank page. I have a 95 SE with ~180 miles on it. I got the car with 176K miles on it and it's obviously not problem free. The only modification is a Ingen intake. The car came with zero service records and I know nothing about it except that it was a teen's first car (:ugh: ). I've been changing the oil every 3000 miles along with the filter, so that's covered. Luckily it seems to use very minimal oil for a car with such high miles.

My first question is: Which spark plugs should I buy for the KA24DE and what should they be gapped to? I don't want some $20 Plutonium powered ones, just your standards ones that are your best bang for the buck. I have no idea how long they've been in the car and it won't hurt to change them.

Second question: The car still has the original cat and I live in a state that does not test for emissions. I am very tempted to either run a test pipe or gut my cat. Will this give me any noticable gains besides making my car smell like a gas station while idling?

Third question: My thermostat seems to be FUBARed. At night (in ~30* F weather), my car will not warm up above C. During the day, it will warm up to around a quarter of the way, and on the interstate it will fully warm up. How hard is it to replace the thermostat on a KA24DE? I can see it from the top but I'm not sure what needs to be removed and what not to reach it. My reason for not changing it yet is because I'm stuck in a college apartment with zero tools, and (thanks to being a genetics major) zero time. I will be able to replace near the first of next month though. Until then, I've placed a a peice of cardboard infront of the radiator in an attempt to block air flow.

Fourth question: Are there any 'free' mods? I mean besides gutting the cat.

Thanks for any help, and if you tell me to search... :fawk2: read the post!

[s13gold]

get the bosch platinums from auto zone...just drop em in... 2.99 a piece...bang for the buck.
i just bought some yesterday..12 bucks plus your local state tax...
"Auto Zone" is just a franchise parts store out in Cali...look at your local places..or check autozone.com
i hope this helped for your 1st queston.

[S14DB]

NGK Copper plugs

Get a header or leave the cat. Won't see shit for gains.

you sure it's the thermostat and not the crappy cluster gauge? 3 bolts and some RTV to replace the Thermostat. May want to get new temp senders for the cluster and one for the ECU. Please remove the cardboard.

No ricer mods. Save your money.

[s13gold]

NGK Copper plugs

Get a header or leave the cat. Won't see shit for gains.

you sure it's the thermostat and not the crappy cluster gauge? 3 bolts and some RTV to replace the Thermostat. May want to get new temp senders for the cluster and one for the ECU. Please remove the cardboard.

No ricer mods. Save your money.
how much are they...??? i think copper is a better conductor of electricity..??

[redsuns3838]

free mods? remove AC, sound deadening, any other weight shedding. But you have to scrifice comfort... you can adjust stock rear camber arms to -2.75 camber or so...other than that there isnt much in terms of "free mods". Gutting the cat is probably going to do 0 benefit without larger exhaust piping. Id just leave it on if I were you...What are you planning to do with the car in terms of motor and any sort of racing?

[svensko]

NGK Copper plugs

Get a header or leave the cat. Won't see shit for gains.

you sure it's the thermostat and not the crappy cluster gauge? 3 bolts and some RTV to replace the Thermostat. May want to get new temp senders for the cluster and one for the ECU. Please remove the cardboard.

No ricer mods. Save your money.

I'm almost positive it's the thermostat becaues of the fact that I have no heat, ever. On the rare occasion that I've driven it for 45+ minutes and it is barely over the C, if I turn on the heat (which is lukewarm at best), the guage immediately goes down and the air gets cold again.

free mods? remove AC, sound deadening, any other weight shedding. But you have to scrifice comfort... you can adjust stock rear camber arms to -2.75 camber or so...other than that there isnt much in terms of "free mods". Gutting the cat is probably going to do 0 benefit without larger exhaust piping. Id just leave it on if I were you...What are you planning to do with the car in terms of motor and any sort of racing?

I'd really like to swap a LS2 or something similar into it after graudation and keep it as a daily driver to save up for a track worthy 511 in^2 Vette.

If the KA can last me 3 more years, I'll be happy.

[S14DB]

Iridium is the best conductor but is $20 a plug.
Copper is a close second. Even more so in a NA motor. Replace every 10k but cheaper than Platinum.
Platinum is a horrible conductor but lasts 100k. most popular cause people are lazy.


You may have a air bubble if you have no heat.