Spark plugs and plug wires.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 58
Likes: 8
From: Mesa Arizona
Spark plugs and plug wires.
Getting ready to replace the original spark plugs, and spark plug wires. Car has 51,000 miles on it. Should I get the copper plugs, or the iridium plugs I don’t mind paying more for the iridium if they are going to last a lot longer. I will be ordering the NGK plugs. And the spark plug wire set I will be ordering the AC Delco OEM plug wires. Thank you for all the information on this form for our Corvettes. Everyone have a great day. 👍🙏
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2021
Posts: 58
Likes: 8
From: Mesa Arizona
Spark plugs and plug wires.
My C5 mechanic recommended NGK Spark Plugs. I myself like NGK. I found that Iridium run real hot. Copper is better for conducting heat & power.( I just found this recently.)
You guys have more knowledge than I do,so let me know if I’m doing something wrong. Thank You. 🙏
I will be using Delco spark plug wires & mechanic recommended replacing fuel filter at the same time.Fuel filter will be Delco.
You guys have more knowledge than I do,so let me know if I’m doing something wrong. Thank You. 🙏
I will be using Delco spark plug wires & mechanic recommended replacing fuel filter at the same time.Fuel filter will be Delco.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,017
Likes: 1,432
From: New Jersey
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C2 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C5 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '25
Another vote for GM ACDelco Iridium plugs. Just installed in my 99.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 4,664
My C5 mechanic recommended NGK Spark Plugs. I myself like NGK. I found that Iridium run real hot. Copper is better for conducting heat & power.( I just found this recently.)
You guys have more knowledge than I do,so let me know if I’m doing something wrong. Thank You. 🙏
I will be using Delco spark plug wires & mechanic recommended replacing fuel filter at the same time.Fuel filter will be Delco.
You guys have more knowledge than I do,so let me know if I’m doing something wrong. Thank You. 🙏
I will be using Delco spark plug wires & mechanic recommended replacing fuel filter at the same time.Fuel filter will be Delco.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 2,466
Likes: 699
From: Clark, NJ
I just bought the 41-162 plugs and a set of SMP blue streak wires from Rock Auto.
There's a mail in rebate for $3 per AC Delco iridium plug right now.
https://www.rockauto.com/lang/en/promo.html
https://www.rockauto.com/Images/Curr...s_fillable.pdf
There's a mail in rebate for $3 per AC Delco iridium plug right now.
https://www.rockauto.com/lang/en/promo.html
https://www.rockauto.com/Images/Curr...s_fillable.pdf
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 1,075
From: South Florida
Every car I tune unless its a nitrous dragger gets Iridium NGK as the final plug
My method
1. Copper NGK for tuning
2. New set of copper NGK for verify the tuning complete (clean plugs come out after 1k 2k miles)
3. Iridium plugs go in properly gapped and hit the dyno to clean up WOT a bit and find minimum best timing
Protips
A. Never touch the spark plugs with your skin
B. Don't deform the plug metal materials during gap process, use a soft plastic material to do the gapping and never touch the center tip with anything
C. Apply a very tiny dab of anti-seize very high up on the plug threads, never let anti seize come near the end of the plugs, it will gradually ooze towards the tip over time
D. Once you install the plugs properly using correct torque, NEVER remove them. The engine was verified tuned correctly already (my customers cars are) so there is NO need to ever look at them or bother them again. This is a huge mistake people make, checking their plugs is for TUNING only, use COPPER cheap plugs for that purpose, then iridium, install, done. done. done.
E. indexing is said to be ineffective in LS applications nevertheless if you can spare the effort and time it takes...
My method
1. Copper NGK for tuning
2. New set of copper NGK for verify the tuning complete (clean plugs come out after 1k 2k miles)
3. Iridium plugs go in properly gapped and hit the dyno to clean up WOT a bit and find minimum best timing
Protips
A. Never touch the spark plugs with your skin
B. Don't deform the plug metal materials during gap process, use a soft plastic material to do the gapping and never touch the center tip with anything
C. Apply a very tiny dab of anti-seize very high up on the plug threads, never let anti seize come near the end of the plugs, it will gradually ooze towards the tip over time
D. Once you install the plugs properly using correct torque, NEVER remove them. The engine was verified tuned correctly already (my customers cars are) so there is NO need to ever look at them or bother them again. This is a huge mistake people make, checking their plugs is for TUNING only, use COPPER cheap plugs for that purpose, then iridium, install, done. done. done.
E. indexing is said to be ineffective in LS applications nevertheless if you can spare the effort and time it takes...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,488
Likes: 4,334
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
My C5 mechanic recommended NGK Spark Plugs. I myself like NGK. I found that Iridium run real hot. Copper is better for conducting heat & power.( I just found this recently.)
You guys have more knowledge than I do,so let me know if I’m doing something wrong. Thank You. 🙏
I will be using Delco spark plug wires & mechanic recommended replacing fuel filter at the same time.Fuel filter will be Delco.
You guys have more knowledge than I do,so let me know if I’m doing something wrong. Thank You. 🙏
I will be using Delco spark plug wires & mechanic recommended replacing fuel filter at the same time.Fuel filter will be Delco.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 51
Likes: 7
Getting ready to replace the original spark plugs, and spark plug wires. Car has 51,000 miles on it. Should I get the copper plugs, or the iridium plugs I don’t mind paying more for the iridium if they are going to last a lot longer. I will be ordering the NGK plugs. And the spark plug wire set I will be ordering the AC Delco OEM plug wires. Thank you for all the information on this form for our Corvettes. Everyone have a great day. 👍🙏
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 6,488
Likes: 4,334
From: Florida
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
2022 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I just bought the 41-162 plugs and a set of SMP blue streak wires from Rock Auto.
There's a mail in rebate for $3 per AC Delco iridium plug right now.
https://www.rockauto.com/lang/en/promo.html
https://www.rockauto.com/Images/Curr...s_fillable.pdf
There's a mail in rebate for $3 per AC Delco iridium plug right now.
https://www.rockauto.com/lang/en/promo.html
https://www.rockauto.com/Images/Curr...s_fillable.pdf
Thats a nice rebate! Those plugs are $7.25 ea on Amazon, so $4.25 after rebate.
I wonder why NGKs iridium’s cost $2.50(standard iridium)- $5.50(laser iridium) more per plug?