Subject: NGK spark plug info
Date: 11/9/1999 3:59pm

All,

A while back I asked where I could obtain a particular
NGK spark plug for my 93T locally, since I'd been having some trouble.

Well, to cut a long story short I got tired of asking the guys
at the parts stores to look up the part number only to have them
say that they couldn't find it.  It turns out that NGK has both
a part number and a stock number (as some of you on the list
kindly pointed out to me).  Most of the places I called won't
be able to find it on their computer if you ask for the part 
number - you need to ask for the stock number instead.

I checked out NGK's website at http://www.ngksparkplugs.com and
sent them an email asking for a master catalog.  To my amazement I
got a reply the next day saying it was in the mail and I received
it a couple of days later.  Kudos to NGK.

Anyway, here is all the MR2-specific information I could extract
from the catalog.  I'd recommend you get yourself one if you're
interested in this stuff and don't have one already - it contains
some useful information.

OEM Platinum plugs:

Year       Engine   Part #     Stock #   Gap
1985-1990  4A-GELC  BCPR5EP-11  2097     1.1mm (0.044")
1988-1990  4A-GZE   BCPR6EP-11  3350     1.1mm (0.044")
1991-1995  3S-GTE   BKR6EP-8    2215     0.8mm (0.032")
1991       5S-FE    BKR5EVX-11  5182     1.1mm (0.044")
1992-1995  5S-FE    BKR6EP-11   2978     1.1mm (0.044")

The only other plug the catalog lists for MR2s is
the non-platinum:
1991       5S-FE    BKR5EY-A-11 2526     1.1mm (0.044")

The plug I was originally looking for is:

Part #:  BKR7E  Stock #: 6097

Looking back through the archives, others have used:

Part #:  BCP7ES  Stock #: 5030
Part #:  BCP6ES  Stock #: 4930

The first digit in the NGK part number indicates the heat rating.
Lower numbers are hotter, higher numbers are colder.

Without trying to describe the whole NGK part number system, the above
part numbers break down as follows, from first letter/digit to last:

B - 14mm thread diameter
C - 5/8" hex size construction
K - 5/8" hex size construction, projected tip (ISO)
P - Projected insulator type
R - Resistor type
(heat range 2 through 11)
E - 19mm (3/4" )thread reach
P - Premium platinum
VX - High-performance platinum
Y - V-grooved center electrode (14mm only) 2.5mm insulator
A - Special Design
- -11 - 1.1mm gap
- -8  - 0.8mm gap

For plugs with a flat seat and gasket (all of the above, I believe),
NGK recommends torquing 14mm plugs to 18.0-25.3 lb-ft in cast iron
heads and 18.0-21.6 lb-ft in aluminum heads.  If you don't have a 
torque wrench they say to give it between 1/2 and 2/3 of a turn after
finger tightness.

If anybody has some specific applications they'd like me to look up,
please feel free to email me privately.

Regards,
Jon Sturgeon
93T