Ok. I've had some issues with my TPI 305 (87 Formie) idling cold. It surges, sputters, occasionally has detonation, and lacks power. Once it gets to 120*, all is good and it ran like a dream.

Then I failed emissions. 7/3 on HC. 3.4/3 with guaranteed to pass.

Anyway, I had a sinking feeling on the plugs, so I pulled them. The previous owner replaced them a year or so ago, so I figured they were "ok".

They were Splitfires, with a .070 gap (I'm supposed to have .035).

Are they most likely the source of all my problems?

 

Yes! Buy some a/c delcos and gap them to .035 and try again.

 

4 replaced, runs smoother and can start one one try now

But I can't get the wire off of 5 or 6, and 7&8 are a royal PITA.

Any tips?

 

try gettin them out from underneath the car, as for the wires you could always buy one of those plug boot removers or whatever they're called

 

Definitely get underneath the car. Wear some goggles if your engine is dirty or has ever been on fire

 

[edit:] my below splitfire statement is not necessarily the same view that Honeywell (who makes them) has about them (company policy hehe)

yeah i hear splitfires are money down the drain, best plugs to use are finewire double platinum, if they make it for your application. they require less voltage to create spark