Hi Greg, yes I still have the Plasma setup on Subie. It's so reliable that if I ever have any misfire at idle, I look to fuel or vacuum related stuff. I never get any misfire ever under a load!
Karl- No a faster spark won't hurt timing. I second Greg on the Granetellis, but if you got a set that has 40 ohms/foot, or even 40 ohms total, that's really good! I'd check 'em all out with a good DVOM, with alligator clip leads. I'm sure Granetelli would have made a set to fit yours. For the Torquemasters, I ordered 'em as non-resistor. You could use most any non-resistor plug w/ Plasma. They just won't last real long, is my understanding, so I used the stainless Torquemasters. And, of course the Torquemasters have their own inherent benefits too with their design.
But if you can find non-resistor stock type plugs for the Ranger, you could try cutting the side electrode back some, to better expose the spark to the combustion chamber, and play with gap settings. The reason for cutting the side electrode is to un-shroud the spark gap. This allows the (relatively) slowly expanding flame kernel to "see" the chamber better, with less metal electrode structure blocking it. That side electrode looks small to us, but to the flame kernel, it's like a wall! OR get another set of Torquemasters, in non-resistor...$$$. You could call Torquemaster ans ask Danny about it. He might recommend their other design plug, I dunno. When you have a DVOM ready, could pull one of your T-Master plugs, and check the Ohms resistance, they certainly ought not to be very worn yet.
I'd also call out, that always remember Ron's advice on regapping plugs. As long as the wires, coil, etc. are OK, then that gap trick is the biggest bang for the buck in Ignition tricks!!
As in-Free!!
For attaching the individual wires from each diode block to each plug wire, I did some fancy work at the spark plug ends. I went to Summit Racing and bought replacement straight MSD plug boots with new brass plug terminals. I replaced the Granetelli plug boots/terminals with the MSD's, and ran the diode wire thru the plug boot along side the Granetelli wire. I crimped the diode wire bare end in the terminal along with the Granetelli stainless conductor wire. I have a fancy MSD plug wire crimper/stripper tool from my custom tuneup days. The special hi voltage wire I used for the diode blocks is quite thin, like 18 gauge I think.
The setup has held up well for 3 1/2 years now, with no parts replaced since conversion. I think Aaron's conversion to that fresh rebuilt Datsun motor is a pretty ideal situation for the Plasma conversion. Nice fresh engine, and a Weber carb that is so tuneable. And, the truck is so old that one could mod it like mad and probably not get hassled by the Smog Establishment.
I hope Aaron Murakami puts out more videos on this Datsun, as he does more. If he adds Hho, or water injection, and leans out the carb, I'd like to see the results. Watching this video, I kept nodding my head, as he explained several things about Ignition I've known of for yeqrs. I've always advocated better quality plug wires, etc. My thinking here is- strengthen and dial-in the Ignition system first, then go on to other stuff. If you are confident of a really strong consistent spark, then you can basically stop thinking about it, and concentrate on all else. But w/ the Plasma, you get more than just a strong spark, as the video explains.
Tracy G