Sparkplug problem or more??

[Philip Messer]

I need some expert feedback!

While driving my Backdraft over the weekend, I suddenly incurred a loss of power. The idle was OK, but the Windsor Ford Racing crate 392 stroker was hitting on only 7 cylinders upon acceleration. I pulled the 4 spark plugs on the passenger side of the engine and discovered the ground electrode on the back plug was pushed up against the center electrode, leaving essentially no gap!! The plug was black and not cocoa colored revealing it had not been firing. I cleaned the plug and reinstalled all 4 plugs and 200+ miles later, the engine runs as good as ever, perhpas even better!!

The engine has 2000 miles on it and I have not pulled any plugs prior to the weekend loss of power. I am pleased for now that the engine runs as strong as ever, but I have concerns as to how and when the plug gap closed and can it happen again! Could the plug have been installed this way and it took 2000 miles of driving to foul out? Could I have pumped up a hydraulic lifter and pushed the gap closed with a valve? Could there be a piece of metal floating around in the combustion area (I can't hear any strange noises and the cylinder compression checks OK)? Do I have a piston or a cam problem (I doubt it as I would expect a recurrence of the problem within the 200+ miles driven since!).

Any other ideas? Any elaboration on my thoughts? Anyone had similar experience?

Phil from Phoenix