E3 Spark Plugs....
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 10
From: New Paltz, New York USA
E3 Spark Plugs....
Is anyone using the E3 spark plugs? If so are they any better than a set of AC Delco plugs?
I have heard both good and bad about the E3 plugs. My 81 is due for a plug change and I was just wondering if the E3 is worth the extra money. TIA
I have heard both good and bad about the E3 plugs. My 81 is due for a plug change and I was just wondering if the E3 is worth the extra money. TIA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,018
Likes: 9
From: Winston Ga.
It's funny you bring this up. I was chatting up a well known mech this weekend who was adamantly against them. Said he had several examples where someone came up to him with misfires, rough idle and general poor perf. They each had e3's and when swapped back out for oem things cleared up.
Just anecdotal and hearsay but I value this guys opinion very highly. I'll stick with the ac deco or champions.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
With a stock engine and ignition system oe type plugs are all that's necessary. You won't get better service, longer life or better performance by using the more exotic spark plugs.
Anything more than that only serves to lighten your wallet.
Anything more than that only serves to lighten your wallet.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
E3 falls into what I like to call "gimmicks". When it comes to spark plugs, not that much has happened the last few decades.
The only real improvement is to be made in making the center electrode smaller diameter. A spark has an easier time jumping from a small surface than a larger one. When the center electrode is made smaller you lower the secondary ignition voltage. The ignition system lasts longer and performs better.
But making the center electrode smaller makes it wear faster. That's where precious metals come in. By using these you can make a thin electrode that wears slow. First we had platinum, and now we see more and more iridium. These are not gimmicks, they have real benefits.
That being said: For a 30-40 year old SBC/BBC that you drive a couple thousand miles a year I don't see a need for anything but a traditional $2 copper plug.
The only real improvement is to be made in making the center electrode smaller diameter. A spark has an easier time jumping from a small surface than a larger one. When the center electrode is made smaller you lower the secondary ignition voltage. The ignition system lasts longer and performs better.
But making the center electrode smaller makes it wear faster. That's where precious metals come in. By using these you can make a thin electrode that wears slow. First we had platinum, and now we see more and more iridium. These are not gimmicks, they have real benefits.
That being said: For a 30-40 year old SBC/BBC that you drive a couple thousand miles a year I don't see a need for anything but a traditional $2 copper plug.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Index the plain ol' AC plugs. Make them look straight down into the cylinder, so the side electrode doesn't shroud the spark.
Mark the position of the side electrode on the insulator with a Sharpie. The hot rod houses sell a copper washer kit of various thicknesses that you can use to make sure the electrode is at the 12 oclock position when installed and torqued to spec.
Mark the position of the side electrode on the insulator with a Sharpie. The hot rod houses sell a copper washer kit of various thicknesses that you can use to make sure the electrode is at the 12 oclock position when installed and torqued to spec.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 10
From: New Paltz, New York USA
Index the plain ol' AC plugs. Make them look straight down into the cylinder, so the side electrode doesn't shroud the spark.
Mark the position of the side electrode on the insulator with a Sharpie. The hot rod houses sell a copper washer kit of various thicknesses that you can use to make sure the electrode is at the 12 oclock position when installed and torqued to spec.
Mark the position of the side electrode on the insulator with a Sharpie. The hot rod houses sell a copper washer kit of various thicknesses that you can use to make sure the electrode is at the 12 oclock position when installed and torqued to spec.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 9
Dunno if it helps all that much, really. If you look at the placement of the plugs in the wedge shaped head, and how the plug is sort of tucked into a corner, you can imagine that you are improving things by indexing the plugs.
I always felt that indexing the plugs improved the idle quality.
Couldn't hurt, anyway.
I always felt that indexing the plugs improved the idle quality.
Couldn't hurt, anyway.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,716
Likes: 121
From: Sulphur LA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06,'11,'13-'14,'16,'18,'19,'24, '25
It is amazing that after all this time these company's invent the wheel and then pawn it off on us as the next best thing.
It is a long standing practice for enthusiasts to un-shroud the electrode by cutting back the ground strap to expose more arch but then these companies come out with something like this and try and separate us from our money.
with Zwede 100% and have seen the better plugs in action both in real world time trials and on a dyno back to back testing in marine service.
Buy yourself a set of brand name good quality plugs for your car and if you want the better plugs purchase plugs with the precious metal small center electrode for longevity.
Just offering my experience with plugs
Neal
It is a long standing practice for enthusiasts to un-shroud the electrode by cutting back the ground strap to expose more arch but then these companies come out with something like this and try and separate us from our money.
with Zwede 100% and have seen the better plugs in action both in real world time trials and on a dyno back to back testing in marine service.Buy yourself a set of brand name good quality plugs for your car and if you want the better plugs purchase plugs with the precious metal small center electrode for longevity.
Just offering my experience with plugs
Neal
