Yet Another Spark Plug Question

[Blue/72]

I just had the original 350 rebuild in my truck about a year ago and installed an HEI distributor. My question is this: If I upgrade my spark plugs to say E3 plug ,that advertise a certain % horse power gain, will I notice a difference in power or starting the truck? Not sure what plugs would be the best for this but just wondering if it is even worth it? Thanks guys

[Stocker]

E3 is not an upgrade in my opinion, other than in price and hype. Nothing to be gained with them, regardless of the marketing claims. Just buy the recommended copper plugs and gap them at .045" for your HEI. I prefer AC plugs but have run others -- the only ones that gave me problems were Champions.

[trac209]

Originally Posted by Stocker

E3 is not an upgrade in my opinion, other than in price and hype. Nothing to be gained with them, regardless of the marketing claims. Just buy the recommended copper plugs and gap them at .045" for your HEI. I prefer AC plugs but have run others -- the only ones that gave me problems were Champions.

Champions are made by AC delco. I've run champions in everything because here nobody but the dealer sells AC delco branded plugs and they are just fine.

[toolboxchev]

I believe most of the opinion I have heard on these is that they would actually do some good in an aluminum headed motor.

Others will ring in on this.

[Alex V.]

Indexing your single-electrode plugs may do more good than the E-3's. A friend has a '73 Cadillac w/472 and he's really meticulous about plug indexing, tweaking the carb and timing, etc. - and I swear, the exhaust at idle smells like it's a modern fuel injected engine, and it runs well.

[SoCoC10]

I always recommend running factory plugs in your engine. Motorcraft in Ford, Champion in Mopars and Delco in GM. Lots of engineering goes into this plug. Heat range, materials etc. I agree only way a spark plug like the E3s or Splitfires will give any noticeable power gains would be in a high horsepower engines.

[Grumpy old man]

Sparkplugs will only give back what the installer gives them ...INDEXING.. other than that you could run 8 different brands of the same heat range and not see a difference .

[toolboxchev]

Originally Posted by Grumpy old man

Sparkplugs will only give back what the installer gives them ...INDEXING.. other than that you could run 8 different brands of the same heat range and not see a difference .

I can plainly see that by looking at my plugs. How does one go about doing this professionally?

Other than *&%$&^# Google?

[Grumpy old man]

post a picture of your plugs you may have other issues

[toolboxchev]

Yes I know I am burning some oil in #1 and #5 cylinders. About every oil change a plug cleaning does some good.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by trac209

Champions are made by AC delco. I've run champions in everything because here nobody but the dealer sells AC delco branded plugs and they are just fine.

Yes, I am aware of the family ties. AC = the initials of Arthur Champion. I only related my personal experience, that being the only plugs I ever had trouble with in my 350 was a set of Champions. Maybe there was simply a bad run, I don't know. But I do know what I experienced. I doubt there's any brand made that doesn't have a bad plug now & then.