Crazy 454 Spark Plug SHOOTOUT!

[SSC's76]

one side note I tested plugs a few years ago I have a old vixen plug tester uses air and electricity. you increase the air pressure and watch the spark. very simple tool but auto lite plugs just standard copper kept a good clean spark longer then any other plug. now I also tested e3 plugs. the spark pattern was amazing just like it looks on the commercials but it could not hang with the autolite. I tested them in my Subaru mpfi 1.8 no change in fuel economy or seat of the pants feel. but on the other side I used one in my lawn mower and it actually uses less gas to cut the same amount of grass almost half a tank less.. have no clue how or why but that's an insane improvement. I tried them in my shovel head and it just fowled them out. I suggest find a plug that your engine likes and stick with it


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[tucsonjwt]

I have tried many different brands. I now buy only Champion platinum on sale and get them for free. I have 36 of these plugs in the shed - all free.

I think this spark plug mumbo jumbo is all hype. I have never seen a scientific study on the performance of all types of plugs in different driving conditions.

I have owned 2 trucks with 454s (73 and current 83 C20s). 454 engine and heavy 3/4 ton pickup mean bad gas mileage no matter what plug you use.

Performance is fine with the Champion platinum plugs - just get some for free and try them out.

[solanistec]

Run ac delco and add a high output coil and a msd 6 or 6a. It will burn anything. Alot less fouling out.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

The cut ground strap and a plug indexing kit is about as much as you can do. I have a brute force hei coil and a msd 6al with the best plug wires you can possibly buy (taylor thundervolt) and autolite coppers.
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[savatreatabvr]

Plug indexing kit? Never heard of such a thing!

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS '86

The cut ground strap and a plug indexing kit is about as much as you can do. I have a brute force hei coil and a msd 6al with the best plug wires you can possibly buy (taylor thundervolt) and autolite coppers.
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[cory d]

maybe he is refering to the plug washer with different thicknesses so you can index the plug

[savatreatabvr]

I'm going to research this plus my next set of plugs are getting customized by grinding down the ground straps! Makes perfect sense to me!

Originally Posted by cory d

maybe he is refering to the plug washer with different thicknesses so you can index the plug

[cory d]

i have thought about trying the ground strap thing with my dirt bike but im afraid it might melt a hole in the piston. its a 2 stroke so it will fire every rotation. and having the piss reved out of it might not help.

[INSIDIOUS '86]

Originally Posted by cory d

i have thought about trying the ground strap thing with my dirt bike but im afraid it might melt a hole in the piston. its a 2 stroke so it will fire every rotation. and having the piss reved out of it might not help.

Run it rich and no worries lol
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[savatreatabvr]

I ground down the straps on my new plugs and it runs better but couldn't tell if it was because of the modification or because they were new plugs, lol!

Originally Posted by cory d

i have thought about trying the ground strap thing with my dirt bike but im afraid it might melt a hole in the piston. its a 2 stroke so it will fire every rotation. and having the piss reved out of it might not help.

[savatreatabvr]

I bought a set of ACDelco Professional Platinum Spark Plugs for $47.92 hoping for better performance, well I can't tell the difference from my cheap $18 plugs! Anyone else waste their money on expensive plugs with no increase in performance?

[ironroad9c1]

no differance , long as they spark, don't get suckerd by marking scams.

[1997z71]

Originally Posted by S10Fan

Autolite 26 in all my Chevy's, no issues at all.

26 is a real hot plug,not sure why you would want to use it. Be careful with total timing.
I agree on the Autolites,that's what I use in all my engines,even the race boat.

[1997z71]

Originally Posted by savatreatabvr

I ground down the straps on my new plugs and it runs better but couldn't tell if it was because of the modification or because they were new plugs, lol!

The old J-Gap trick. Autolite actually makes a plug like that. I use it in the race boat.

[brothers69c-10]

I've always ran the cheapest ones I could get. May not get 100K out of them but you didn't 40 years ago either. AC Delco plugs are made by champion now and I believe autolite is as well.

[1997z71]

Originally Posted by brothers69c-10

I've always ran the cheapest ones I could get. May not get 100K out of them but you didn't 40 years ago either. AC Delco plugs are made by champion now and I believe autolite is as well.

Not sure how all these rumors get started. Autolite IS NOT manufactured by Champion,and not sure AC plugs are either.Maybe you could post a link to back this up,as I have not heard that,but hard to say anymore as so much is being spun off.

[crashz]

Its funny because the newer trucks require platinum plugs for lower maintenance, yet if you don't pull them and put a little copper never-sieze on the threads, you'll never get them out of an aluminum head.

I've tried quite a few of the hyped plugs and found no difference in any of them. Here in the rust belt its just good sense to change or pull them anually so you don't have issues, so the $15-20 set is perfect.

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by 1997z71

26 is a real hot plug,not sure why you would want to use it. Be careful with total timing.
I agree on the Autolites,that's what I use in all my engines,even the race boat.

R44T AC Delco and #26 Autolite are both recommended for my applications.

[1997z71]

Originally Posted by S10Fan

R44T AC Delco and #26 Autolite are both recommended for my applications.

That AC R44T plug is two steps colder than an Autolite 26
Autolite 26 IS A Hot Hot Plug

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by 1997z71

That AC R44T plug is two steps colder than an Autolite 26
Autolite 26 IS A Hot Hot Plug

I'm not arguing hot cold etc. I'm not getting into a *issing contest over plugs. Again, I've had ZERO issues running 26's in my 3 sbc's and 1 bbc's, all 4 are essentially daily drivers.

[1997z71]

Originally Posted by S10Fan

I'm not arguing hot cold etc. I'm not getting into a *issing contest over plugs. Again, I've had ZERO issues running 26's in my 3 sbc's and 1 bbc's, all 4 are essentially daily drivers.

That's good that you're not having problems,But many will. Nobody ask you to get into a contest over anything.
I was simply stating an Autolite 26 plug is a Hot plug.

[Alex V.]

Delco R44T's (I think that's what the book says) in my '85 bone stock 454. I think I got 28,000-30,000 miles out of the last set of plugs, and the truck (TH400/4.10's) could consistently pull 12.25-12.5 MPG @ 60-65 MPH on the highway. MPG's bumped up a little after I bought the new tires and replaced the cap/rotor, but I didn't take it on the interstate much after that so the numbers aren't as solid.