One thing leads to another.
10-20-2016, 10:29 PM
#22
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Nov 2003
Location: Maryland
Posts: 5,657
Received 613 Likes
on
368 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05, '09, '15
Hey Dennis. Glad you are OK. I have a plug cleaner you can have. I don't use it anymore. Do you have an air compressor?
Tom
Tom
Last edited by Sky65; 10-20-2016 at 10:30 PM.
10-21-2016, 06:54 AM
#23
Team Owner
10-21-2016, 06:57 AM
#24
Team Owner
It took a while but I have managed to dial in both cars so the plugs burn to near perfection -- even the dual quad C1...
These '61 plugs had about 12,000 miles on them...
These '61 plugs had about 12,000 miles on them...
10-21-2016, 10:11 AM
#26
Race Director
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Close to DC
Posts: 14,546
Received 2,127 Likes
on
1,466 Posts
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Frankie, that's exactly what my plugs normally look like. I'll be glad to return too normal in two ways. 
Dennis
Dennis
10-22-2016, 05:38 PM
#27
Pro
When I was young and poor an older gentleman showed me a trick for extending the life of plugs when they get fouled. With the plug in a vise you cook the end of the plug with a propane torch. All of the fuel, oil and other crud turns to ash in less than a minute. The blast from the propane torch tends to blow all the ash out as well. The temperature of the propane torch flame is about 3,600 F, which is about the same as the combustion chamber under ideal conditions. A quick wipe of the threads and check of the gap and the plug is ready to go back in. No worries about scratches on the ceramic or bits of blasting media in the combustion chamber.
10-22-2016, 05:44 PM
#28
Team Owner
When I was young and poor an older gentleman showed me a trick for extending the life of plugs when they get fouled. With the plug in a vise you cook the end of the plug with a propane torch. All of the fuel, oil and other crud turns to ash in less than a minute. The blast from the propane torch tends to blow all the ash out as well. The temperature of the propane torch flame is about 3,600 F, which is about the same as the combustion chamber under ideal conditions. A quick wipe of the threads and check of the gap and the plug is ready to go back in. No worries about scratches on the ceramic or bits of blasting media in the combustion chamber.
However, if the torch temp doesn't exceed the normal combustion chamber temp I don't know how it would 'burn off' cooked on carbon deposits if normal combustion doesn't do it...
Don't get me wrong - it may well work but how is not intuitively obvious...
I'm just sayin...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 10-22-2016 at 05:45 PM.
10-22-2016, 08:49 PM
#29
Pro
Frankie, that's pretty much what I thought. It actually worked better in 1963 when I learned the trick. There was lead in the gas that also left deposits that could foul your plugs and the propane torch would burn the lead oxide deposits off as well.
Rather than take a chance on one of the plugs from the Vette, try it on a lawn mower engine spark plug. If it doesn't clean up the plug close to new, I'm just an old man remembering advice from another old man.
I was having problems with fouled plugs on my 55 Plymouth that burned two quarts of oil every 500 miles. It needed rings and I couldn't afford the parts. Also couldn't afford to replace plugs every thousand miles.
I paid $20 for the Plymouth and it got me to work for six months when I found a low mileage, rust-free and perfect running 47 Ford two-door sedan. I was in heaven for $300.
Rather than take a chance on one of the plugs from the Vette, try it on a lawn mower engine spark plug. If it doesn't clean up the plug close to new, I'm just an old man remembering advice from another old man.
I was having problems with fouled plugs on my 55 Plymouth that burned two quarts of oil every 500 miles. It needed rings and I couldn't afford the parts. Also couldn't afford to replace plugs every thousand miles.
I paid $20 for the Plymouth and it got me to work for six months when I found a low mileage, rust-free and perfect running 47 Ford two-door sedan. I was in heaven for $300.
10-29-2016, 04:07 PM
#30
Race Director
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Close to DC
Posts: 14,546
Received 2,127 Likes
on
1,466 Posts
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Update!
I can finally bend my finger to actually say it's completely usable. Installed new AC R45S plugs and TOY-1 is back on the road just in time to do some crusin today and tomorrow. 
Dennis
Dennis
10-29-2016, 04:21 PM
#32
Race Director
Thread Starter
Member Since: Jan 2002
Location: Close to DC
Posts: 14,546
Received 2,127 Likes
on
1,466 Posts
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Oh yeh!
10-29-2016, 09:16 PM
#33
Racer
I can relate to the "finger in the grinder" syndrome. Only I got the whole finger jammed into the wire wheel cleaning the headbolts on a flathead Ford I was building. I have arthritis, and if you injure a member, the arthritis literally seeks it out. I was out of commission for at least 6 weeks. Count your blessings. I now use a vibratory tumbler with a variety of media to do this task. It's worth it.
10-29-2016, 09:34 PM
#34
Racer
Glad you got her fixed up and out cruisin in this beautiful weather we are having. :-) Hoping to get the 67 on the road too. See you out there tomorrow.