AC Delco plugs vs. Autolite vs. ??
05-23-2007, 02:59 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
AC Delco plugs vs. Autolite vs. ??
Any major difference between these or Champion plugs? Engine has about 10-11k miles on it. Current plugs have been for a while have outer surface rust and were in when I got the vette this past December.
Also have pinging using 93 octane, fiddled with the timing but still have it under load, but will do a full tuneup. What about seafoam or water or Chevron Techron to get rid of possible carbon build up. Just put some right down the carb while runnung? I heard will smoke like hell for about 5 min. Can carbon buildup occur in this amount of milage?
Thanks in advance.
Glenn
Also have pinging using 93 octane, fiddled with the timing but still have it under load, but will do a full tuneup. What about seafoam or water or Chevron Techron to get rid of possible carbon build up. Just put some right down the carb while runnung? I heard will smoke like hell for about 5 min. Can carbon buildup occur in this amount of milage?
Thanks in advance.
Glenn
05-23-2007, 04:44 PM
#2
Instructor
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Autolite I have found are junk, I have been recommended ACdelco...Champion arent that great. I would use Accel or my personal favorite NGK R plugs. Others may have further insight though.
05-23-2007, 04:48 PM
#3
Melting Slicks
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Spark plugs is one of those issues that you'll find little agreement on. Everyone has a different favorite. A friend who used to race Chevies preferred Champion in small blocks and AC plugs in big blocks. I've gotten mucho advice to stick with AC plugs. A speed shop I deal with only installs NGK.
My own experience has shown me whatever application a manufacturer specifies should work fine. Years ago I worked for JC Penney in one of their auto centers (long gone now). We sold Champion, Accel and the house brand JC Penney spark plugs (made for them by Prestolite). I tried them all and found no difference as long as the heat range was right.
You don't need one of those big dollar spark plugs...platinum tips, funny electrodes, etc., unless your specific car calls for it. I tried Splitfire plugs in one car I owned...within a short time two of them cracked their ceramic insulators from the engine heat. They were a waste of money so I went back to oe plugs and had no more problems.
I know others will have their pet spark plug brand and that's fine. I'm just saying use whatever manufacturer's correct application and heat range and you should be fine.
My own experience has shown me whatever application a manufacturer specifies should work fine. Years ago I worked for JC Penney in one of their auto centers (long gone now). We sold Champion, Accel and the house brand JC Penney spark plugs (made for them by Prestolite). I tried them all and found no difference as long as the heat range was right.
You don't need one of those big dollar spark plugs...platinum tips, funny electrodes, etc., unless your specific car calls for it. I tried Splitfire plugs in one car I owned...within a short time two of them cracked their ceramic insulators from the engine heat. They were a waste of money so I went back to oe plugs and had no more problems.
I know others will have their pet spark plug brand and that's fine. I'm just saying use whatever manufacturer's correct application and heat range and you should be fine.
05-23-2007, 04:57 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Autolite have a wider heat range and foul less than the AC Delco plugs I have used. NGK are good too but I prefer to buy Autolite because they have solved fouling problems for me in the past. 
-Mark.
-Mark.
05-23-2007, 05:05 PM
#6
Safety Car
I had a 79 Z28 that would miss on everything buy Autolites.
Now this vette I have had Autolites and missed like crazy so I changed to R45ts AC and it purrs like a kitten.
I like AC but for a higher price I bet NGK are good also.
As for the detination, there must be a hot spot on the piston, I would tricke water down the carb but not to kill it while doing it,chances are , bad gas.
To spend a little money you could get a hotter coil and gap your plugs to .050 for a wider spark to take advantage of the better coil.
Also try heavier springs on your weights in the distributar to see if you can lose the detintion at lower pulling speeds.
Now this vette I have had Autolites and missed like crazy so I changed to R45ts AC and it purrs like a kitten.
I like AC but for a higher price I bet NGK are good also.
As for the detination, there must be a hot spot on the piston, I would tricke water down the carb but not to kill it while doing it,chances are , bad gas.
To spend a little money you could get a hotter coil and gap your plugs to .050 for a wider spark to take advantage of the better coil.
Also try heavier springs on your weights in the distributar to see if you can lose the detintion at lower pulling speeds.
05-23-2007, 05:07 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I had a 79 Z28 that would miss on everything buy Autolites.
Now this vette I have had Autolites and missed like crazy so I changed to R45ts AC and it purrs like a kitten.
I like AC but for a higher price I bet NGK are good also.
As for the detination, there must be a hot spot on the piston, I would tricke water down the carb but not to kill it while doing it,chances are , bad gas.
To spend a little money you could get a hotter coil and gap your plugs to .050 for a wider spark to take advantage of the better coil.
Also try heavier springs on your weights in the distributar to see if you can lose the detintion at lower pulling speeds.
Now this vette I have had Autolites and missed like crazy so I changed to R45ts AC and it purrs like a kitten.
I like AC but for a higher price I bet NGK are good also.
As for the detination, there must be a hot spot on the piston, I would tricke water down the carb but not to kill it while doing it,chances are , bad gas.
To spend a little money you could get a hotter coil and gap your plugs to .050 for a wider spark to take advantage of the better coil.
Also try heavier springs on your weights in the distributar to see if you can lose the detintion at lower pulling speeds.
05-23-2007, 07:52 PM
#9
Instructor
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05-23-2007, 08:43 PM
#10
Safety Car
05-23-2007, 10:16 PM
#12
Safety Car
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I've run mostly autolites for the last year or so, never had an issue with em. Engine always starts with a quick turn of the key and never had a cylinder miss... I'm also running vortec heads now, still no problems.
05-24-2007, 12:21 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
Autolites for me,..the regular "copper-cores" which run about $1.25 each,..and this coming from a die-hard AC-Delco fan for any other part. For me, they perform better, last longer and have a variety of heat ranges. Here's a link,..go to "understanding spark plugs" for some good info.
http://www.autolite.com/carcare/techSpecs.php
http://www.autolite.com/carcare/techSpecs.php
05-24-2007, 01:58 AM
#14
I run standard NGK in all my vehicles,hot rods, bikes and DD, platinum,iridium,titanium,chromium or gold plugs in the older motors carbon up and DO NOT clean off, Unless it's been rebuilt for unleaded gas and emissions.
05-24-2007, 11:41 AM
#15
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
I had a 79 Z28 that would miss on everything buy Autolites.
Now this vette I have had Autolites and missed like crazy so I changed to R45ts AC and it purrs like a kitten.
I like AC but for a higher price I bet NGK are good also.
As for the detination, there must be a hot spot on the piston, I would tricke water down the carb but not to kill it while doing it,chances are , bad gas.
To spend a little money you could get a hotter coil and gap your plugs to .050 for a wider spark to take advantage of the better coil.
Also try heavier springs on your weights in the distributar to see if you can lose the detintion at lower pulling speeds.
Now this vette I have had Autolites and missed like crazy so I changed to R45ts AC and it purrs like a kitten.
I like AC but for a higher price I bet NGK are good also.
As for the detination, there must be a hot spot on the piston, I would tricke water down the carb but not to kill it while doing it,chances are , bad gas.
To spend a little money you could get a hotter coil and gap your plugs to .050 for a wider spark to take advantage of the better coil.
Also try heavier springs on your weights in the distributar to see if you can lose the detintion at lower pulling speeds.
Gas is Sunoco 93 octane.
The pinging started when I put a few gallons of reg a couple weeks ago. I assumed my engine is low compression 8.5 to 9.0 and would run fine on reg.
05-24-2007, 12:26 PM
#16
Safety Car
Different grades of gas comes from different tanks in the ground, the regular could have had water in it.
I would do the water thing, but don't expect miricals!
You might have to take out 4 degrees of timing, or put the heavy springs in so the advance has to wait until higher RPMs to open, this way the motor is having less demand on it.
I would do the water thing, but don't expect miricals!
You might have to take out 4 degrees of timing, or put the heavy springs in so the advance has to wait until higher RPMs to open, this way the motor is having less demand on it.
05-24-2007, 12:39 PM
#17
Safety Car
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On my '70 had a ping then did a complete tune up. Still had the ping -
used GM top cleaner (About $6) lots of black smoke - no ping and now
runs like a rocket.
used GM top cleaner (About $6) lots of black smoke - no ping and now
runs like a rocket.
05-24-2007, 12:51 PM
#18
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
