Ice_Wolf

Well, I started school and have a good place to work on my 7. So here's my questions. What are the best spark plugs, spark plug wires, and drive belts for our cars? I know NGK is popular for plugs, but not sure about plug wires. For drive belts, I'm gonna try to get a set of Goodyear Gatorbacks I think. I've used them on my other cars and like them very much. So, what's your guys' input?

classicauto

iTrader: (3)

Plugs, nothin' but NGK
Wires - many choices, racing beat, Nology, taylor - all depends on you price range (note ANY new wires will be better than old ones - hehe)
Belts - goodyear gatorbacks have been good to me. OEM belts are surprisingly in-expensive as well. Whatever you do - DO NOT BUY THE DRIVEBELTS FROM CARQUEST!!!! they - firstyl - have the wrong size listing in their cpu for everything but the p/s belt and the belts are cheap JUNK. They stretch wayyyy too far and squeal as a result. For me gatorbacks all the way.

jkimbro

iTrader: (3)

^ ditto

Ice_Wolf

Yea, I'm gonna go with the Gatorback belts for sure then. My question about the plugs is what ones to go with. It seems that they don't make our stock plugs anymore, so I wasn't sure what to go with. I also remember reading something about using all trailing plugs instead of trailing and leading plugs. I guess I can try to find the prices on the different brands of wires. Anyone had experience with the different brands?

Ice_Wolf

miss post, please delete

SpooledupRacing

for plugs u should use

trailing: NGK 5483 or BUR9EQ

Leading: NGK 3559 or BUR7EQ

I have only heard of using all trailing plugs due to a cooler plug in turbo cars..

also I use NGK wires however taylor wires I have used in the past on other cars and they are FANTASTIC

as for other things to do change your FUEL filter, get a K&N air filter, change engine, trans, diff oil.

check for vacuum leaks, maybe change the coolant, and enjoy!

btw check ALL yoru bulbs and replace them too if nessecary!

Ice_Wolf

Alright, I'll go with those spark plugs then. Looks like Advance carries them in stock.

I was talking to dDub about doing some mods and decided that I should start with the belt system. He suggested starting with removing the air pump and ACV and installing a dual alternator pulley. I just ordered my block off plates for the emissions along with the dual alternator pulley. dDub recommended going with the ones from 2751 Engineering since they're much cheaper than Racing Beat, and recommended the pulley from Rotary Innovations since it is not an underdrive pulley like the Racing Beat one, which underdrives the alternator to the point of making it a non-street car. I've also got my two alternator belts on order, along with my plugs. You guys have any suggestions to other stuff I should do with the belt system, plugs, or wires?

wildfc3s

i am doing pretty much the same thing except I am changing most of the gaskets on the car aswell like UIM to LIM things like that replacing the old vaccum hose with new silicon vaccum hose

Ice_Wolf

Alright, I was looking around at RB and Corksport's websites, and found some interesting things. First of all, RB recommends using these Iridium spark plugs over the stock ones, but I'm not sure why. The stock ones are more expensive and seem to be a better design, not to mention the Iridiums have to be gapped, and if I remember right, our cars don't have a gap. Any reason to using those Iridium ones and not just sticking with the stocks?

Next I was looking around at wires, and they seem to make tons of different sets for our cars. I saw brands like NGK, MAZDASPEED, Racing Beat, and Magnecore. I didn't see the Taylor or Nology wires yet though. So, which ones do you guys prefer? I know they're all good companies, and so far I've had really good experience with custom MSD wire sets. What do you guys think?

BLK SEVEN

Hey Ice Wolf, I sell parts for a living and no I dont work at carquest or autozone. I work at a store called Rising Sun Import Parts in san diego CA and ive used NGK Wires on my rx7 and they work great. I strongly recommend these wires the stock part #8156 (About $36)and NGK also makes Power cables #9281 which are more expenssive (About $110) but well worth it. Also I dont know who told you but the iridiums S/P dont need to be gapped only the V power S/P from NGK need to be gapped. If you have any questions about the NGK spark plugs or wires just let me know.

Ice_Wolf

Yea, I'm a big NGK fan too, and I love their spark plugs. I've got the V-Powers for my Probe GT already, so I wasn't sure which ones I wanted to go with on my RX-7. Racing Beat recommended the Iridiums, but I don't think they're the same design as the stock plugs, so idk which ones I wanna use for sure.

Not sure which wires I want to use yet, I've had such good luck with the custom MSD wires, so that's what I'm leaning towards, but I keep heading a lot of good things about the NGK wires for our cars. Maybe I'll just use the stock replacements since they're cheaper. All of the other sets are 80 bucks and above, but not so sure if they're really worth it. So, what experience have you guys had with different plug wires?

Ice_Wolf

Alright, I'm going to go with the stock plugs and cut the washers off of them. Looks like I'll be going with the stock NGK wires too. I'll be using Loctite copper anti-sieze on my plugs and using some of my MSD Spark Guard for the boots. Any other suggestions?

Ice_Wolf

Well, I did a little more looking around and saw that NGK made our plugs in a hotter and colder plug and also that they made them in platinums. Well, my question is now, is there any point in me getting a hotter or colder running plug in my car? I'll probably be buying the platinums because they're only a dollar more than the regulars, and are supposed to last a little longer. Now on the plug wires, I think I'm going to just go with the stock NGK replacements because a lot of people seem to recommend them instead of paying 80+ dollars on a set. These are the stock replacements correct?

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...e=5004&ptset=A

Ice_Wolf

Well, I ordered my parts. I picked up 2 Goodyear Gatorback alternator belts for my new dual belt alternator pulley, a set of platinum NGK OEM spark plugs, and a set of NGK OEM spark plug wires. Once they get here I'll slap them on and try them out.

Sideways7

iTrader: (7)

WHAT? You dont need to gap them because its preset because of the washer. DO NOT cut it off.
As for the wires, the NGK's work just fine. 32.50 from mazdatrix. As for the iridiums, racing beat recommends them but they aren't the same style plugs as stock. They also dont have the thicker nut part (that you put the socket over) you you have to use a super-thin walled spark plug socket to fit inside the lip on the engine casting. You either have to grind one down yourself or py 60 or so bucks for one from racing beat or mazdatrix. The best ones to use are the BUR9EQP/BUR7EQP plugs. Those are the platinums.

Ice_Wolf

I remember reading about cutting the washers off to achieve a little bit higher compression and a little more power. And also, those are the plugs that I bought.

Ice_Wolf

Alright, I've got my spark plugs, plug wires, and belts ordered. I also got my dual belt pulley in and installed on my alternator, and I've got all my block-off plates installed except for the BAC valve. I've currently got the vacuum rack, intake manifold, TB, and fuel rail off. I've got the OMP, EGR, and ACV completely removed, and am starting to cap and fill the holes. What else should I be removing while I've got all that stuff off? Is there anything else I should do?

Ice_Wolf

Alright, update. I have all the emissions blocked off, and am waiting to get in my sub-zero start assist plate to block that off too. I'll also be removing the rat's nest along with it. I've got the FPD off and am waiting for my bolt to come in. I'm currently blocked off the vacuum lines and checking things over. Is there anything else I can/should do besides checking my 5th and 6th ports while the car is torn down?