Spark Plugs

[Corvette64]

Chevy 350 4 bolt with vintage corvette 2.02 Fuelie Double Hump Heads running a brand new ACDelco HEI distributor. What is your opinion on what spark plug to install?

[MI2600]

Champion RJ12YC

[lerch]

I Have tried them all and the best burning plug i have ever seen is the Bosch [Platinum.] Everytime i have gotten the urge to change them out and replace them,i look and say "Dam,that plug looks perfect."What a waist to replace.
Those darn Champions run great,yeah...for about 500miles.Then they burn themselves out.They are good for racing cause they get replaced at every heat.Not so for everyday driving.Sorry,they are not my preferance. A/C's are just fine,but not great.Actually, Motorcraft makes a good burning plug.Yet over all,the Bosch is tops in my book.The single prong platinum is all i ever have used.Now i see they come out with 2 and 4 prong.i think that is all B.S..But then again,i have noy tried them.They do not seem to foul out at all,so i don't see the need for the fancy crap....IMO

[Matt167]

Champions even foul up in my lawnmower. I'v tried A/C and Autolites, they both work good.

[lerch]

Yes, ever notice how often you have to clean or replace them in your Briggs and Stratton Lawn mower?Champion sucks.i used to race Motocross as a lad,and those plugs would burn up,foul up and turn to charcoal. i never liked them.i steted using Bosch in my bikes and then in every car i ever owned,i would try all plug brands to see how they burned.Bosch won...Hands Down.
AC?AC Who? OJ's Buddy?

Lerch

[lerch]

Well,i-be-dammed...Learn sumpthin everday!
Sure you didn't just make that up Denny?
Sounds like one of them Urban-Legend stories...He-He!

[lerch]

Well Denny,at least you learned something of significance in college.Thats rare.
Hey,just checked out your HomePage,And man...that is some monster Merc engine in that 34 truckster.thtas pretty incredible to of had that engine since your college days.Any pics of it?

Lerch

[R Pope]

I heard that Arnold Champion story years ago and laughed it off. Now I wonder. I never had any luck with Champions in anything from a weedwhacker to a 125 Versatile tractor, but that's all you can find around here.

[Corvette64]

I agree with you on the Champion plugs. I bought a set one time and the car ran poorly. I thought I got the plug wires crossed some how. It turned out that one of the plugs was bad. during removal one of the others got stuck in the head. It wasn't cross threaded-it was just stuck! I got it out eventually but it was a struggle to keep from stripping out the threads on the head.

I've been running AC 44's in the car for years, but the guy who sold me the new HEI told me I needed to find a plug that had a wider gap (.060"). Thats what I'm trying to find. Of course when you go to the auto parts store they want to know what car its going in. Since my motor is a conglomeration of 60's, 70's and 80's SBC parts there is no cross reference. HEI cars of the 70's and 80's used the smaller diameter plugs and my 64 heads use the larger plug. Thats my dilemma.

[MI2600]

Funny, I've never had any problems with Champions.

[Corvette64]

I think spark plug brands are kind of like oil brands. Everyone has the brand they like (I use Pennzoil by the way) and everyone thinks theirs is the best. I don't mean to flame Champions I just had a bad experience with them. I do appreciate your input and opinion.

[Corvette64]

Ok guys. No one here really had a solution for me, so this morning I dropped by my local Chevy dealer and asked for a mechanic (actually asked for a hot rodder). The guy I talked to was a mechanic and fellow motorhead and SBC expert. I told him I had converted the vette over to HEI and needed to know what spark plugs to use in my 64' fuelie heads. He suggested that I use the ACDelco R45S. It is a hotter plug than the R44's I had in the engine before and the ceramic electrode on the R45S protrudes further out into the combustion chamber. He predicted correctly that the existing plugs were carboning up and said I was probably getting insufficient combustion and strong fumes from the exhaust. He was dead right on that. Man it would make youe eyes burn it was so strong! The carbonization buildup on the plugs is the result of the reformulated gas that the EPA has foisted on the Dallas area. He said the new gas was harder to ignite and doesn't burn as well as the gas used years ago. I asked about platinum plugs and said he wouldn't recommend them for my application because if they ever did carbon up they would quit working permanently. Thought I would pass this along to the forum.

[Corvette64]

Hey I don't want to air all my dirty laundry! Danny you're right about the R45TS they are standard. But they are the little skinny plugs and my old car uses the big fat ones. I bought the AC R45S and opened the gap up to .040" from .035" as suggested by AC. The mechanic suggested .045", but I decided to take baby steps here and see how they work first. I put them in a little while ago and the exhaust looked and smelled a little cleaner. I'm getting a little grey smoke out the back and am hoping it cleans out. I hope I don't need valve seals again. I did that in the car about ten years ago and it was a pain. It wouldn't surprise me though because the car hadn't been out of the garage in over 5 years before last weekend.

[Corvette64]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DennyW
[B] Ok, I just wanted a cereal box toy.
Oh I think we can do better than that! Heres your boobie prize!

[Walt Zander]

Originally posted by Corvette64
. I'm getting a little grey smoke out the back and am hoping it cleans out. I hope I don't need valve seals again. I did that in the car about ten years ago and it was a pain. It wouldn't surprise me though because the car hadn't been out of the garage in over 5 years before last weekend.

Agree with Denny on your plug application.
Now as to those seals-My SBC sat for more than twice that period and did likewise smoke a lot. Advice from Tech1 was followed and seals are good as can be expected. Marvel oil to the mix and run the B-jeejus out of it. Kept a keen eye on the mirror. After about 300 miles I noticed a marked improvement and was pleased with outcome. That was awhile back and today the seals are ok. Used this procedure for 2 oil changes.
Good luck.