When gapping plugs, especially for me with a .032 gap, is it necessary to have the ground parallel to the surface of the electrode? When I gap the plugs it always turns out that the .032 gap is at the tip of the ground only because it's curved. Should I use pliers to straighten it out and regap it???

 

I doubt it makes any difference, but I have no empirical data to either confirm or refute this assumption.

Rich

 

I have about 20 different spark plug gapping tools, including a wide assortment of ring and blade feeler gauges. The problem is, that autolite 104s come with a .045 gap. The rule of thumb is to not change the gap either larger or smaller by more than .008"... I needed .032 and therein lay the problem. I managed to get it done by holding the ground strap in a bench vice with some VERY intricate maneuvering.

I'd think that if only a single edge of the end of the ground strap is the closest part to the electrode, you have significantly decreased the surface area from which the spark would jump as compared to if the surfaces were parallel. As with you Rich I have no clue as to whether or not it makes a difference, I just wanted the piece of mind to know that the plugs were not causing any unforseen problems.