Any spark plug suggestions?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Miami Florida
Any spark plug suggestions?
Hey guys,
Bought a '74 from an old man wanting to retire. Its got a 350 Crate engine thats about 7 years old or so. Old man claims to have put about 5,000 miles on it or so.
Anyway, I was wanting to change the spark plugs as I already changed the oil + filter and radiator fluid.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
E
Bought a '74 from an old man wanting to retire. Its got a 350 Crate engine thats about 7 years old or so. Old man claims to have put about 5,000 miles on it or so.
Anyway, I was wanting to change the spark plugs as I already changed the oil + filter and radiator fluid.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
E
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
I am an old man and retired!
The first step in selecting spark plugs is to know what heads you have.
The "word" crate engine tells us little, maybe a picture or builder and part number.
Also what ignition or distributor you have? 74 had an electronic per HEI and most crate come with HEI.
The first step in selecting spark plugs is to know what heads you have.
The "word" crate engine tells us little, maybe a picture or builder and part number.
Also what ignition or distributor you have? 74 had an electronic per HEI and most crate come with HEI.
Last edited by mikep3; Jun 27, 2015 at 06:29 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 26,563
Likes: 29
From: Northridge California
St. Jude Donor '14
I'm running NGK's on mine currently, mostly because that is what the Engine Builder suggested.
Davis Unified suggests Autolite Platinum with their distributors, gapped to .55 I think.
For you, run of the mill AC Delco's should be fine.
Davis Unified suggests Autolite Platinum with their distributors, gapped to .55 I think.
For you, run of the mill AC Delco's should be fine.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 992
Likes: 56
From: Baldwinsville, NY
Just guessing but that looks like a 73 or 74 with points distributor. I would pull several plugs and see what kind they are and thier gap. Points distributor SBC use AC DELCO R45TS gapped at .035? Then you go off the deep end with brand names like Boch or Champion, bla blah.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,226
Likes: 643
From: Orange County Ca
I have found that with modern gas, even the cheapo $.99 plugs work for a lot longer than 5k miles . Back in the day, the standard was to change the points and plugs at 10k miles. Points wore out and the leaded gas ate the plugs. Not so now. I pulled a set at about 9k miles on my '69, and they looked practically new. I put them back in and the car still runs well 7k miles later.
So, pull the plugs and if they look ok--no heavy deposits, worn tips, etc.-- put them back in.
99% of the time, changing to a particular brand or a so called "high performance" plug will not do anything. You are just wasting your money.
FYI The only plugs that I have ever had a problem with was Champion. I found bad ones on 2 separate occasions, so I won't buy them, but any name brand should be ok.
So, pull the plugs and if they look ok--no heavy deposits, worn tips, etc.-- put them back in.
99% of the time, changing to a particular brand or a so called "high performance" plug will not do anything. You are just wasting your money.
FYI The only plugs that I have ever had a problem with was Champion. I found bad ones on 2 separate occasions, so I won't buy them, but any name brand should be ok.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 425
Likes: 3
From: Jefferson City Missouri
I've always been an NGK fan. They have never let me down. No reason for any special, fancy plugs!
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