Sparkplug question(s)

[John Mulders]

Yesterday when I started to drive the engine sputtered (is this English) a bit, then picked up and no problems after that.

But today I have another drive (Curacao flag day) and I already had new sparkplugs to put in.

Took a shot of all sparkplugs and of the number 4 in detail (but not sharp).

Can you guys see whether there is any problem?

I use Champion 306 UMC , I know others don't like Champion but these seem to do the job.

What I did see is the that on 3 of them the top part (you can screw off/on) was loose, I always have these hand tight but still this seems loosening?

Do you have that as well? Seems to me that that may cause a bad spark?

Other than that, they all look the same , a bit black on the outside, gray on the connections.

Seems ok, no wetness.

Thanks

John

[Don Coatney]

John;

Your plugs look OK to me. Yesterday I pulled my plugs to do a compression check. Pictured are what my plugs looked like. These plugs have over 4 thousand miles on them and this is the first time I have removed them after returning from Tulsa last month. I will clean them and re-install. My compression reading was good. All cylinders read 120 pounds plus/minus 3 pounds. Took my wife out for ice cream last night and my car ran great.

[claybill]

they are OK...a little rich. but ok. there is some significance as to the electrode color, yours looks good,..and the outer ring..which builds carbon when letting off the gas..something leaking.

abuot the loosening plug tip, no problem. the spark can jump easily , even if it is all the way loose. but wrench them on tight!!

some plugs have tips for both kinds of plug wire end-connectors..pick the one you need..screw it on or off as needed.

claybill

[Jerry Roberts]

If you want to see pictires of spark plugs and desciptions of problems go to http://bullittarchive.com go to the general maintence section then go to Reading Spark Plugs

[Lou Earle]

Hate to tell u this but if you want better results change to auto lite r 45 gaped at 35. I regretfully ( i used to run j6j all the time) have had to give up on champions- There might be others better than auto lite but they really make a difference to me

Lou

[John Mulders]

Thanks, just back from a day drive. Not so many miles but we had fun with the club. Couple of stops etc.

Claybill , what do you mean "something leaking"?

A little rich, could that because I drive mostly short distances?

John

[claybill]

oh....oil leakin g thru valve guides or rings on de celleration....but please my comment on this is jusdt hear say....i rmember when we raced motorcycles we had to read plugs 3-4 times durig a racind event, for carb jetting. we had a book telling us how to read plug colors....electrodes mean one thing and outer ring another,

i agree champions are not the plug for mopars..

bill

[John Mulders]

pfew, thought I needed to worry !

could well be that some oil is leaking (after all the engine is almost 60!).

But the car doesn't smoke badly.

Temperature was steady all day, oil pressure was over 40 (but when the engine is off the gauge already has 10 or so?, this is since I have replaced the dash so the line was disconnected).

Will need to look for different brand of sprakplugs, we have Napa here , anything else other than Champion would be good they would carry?

Thanks

John

[Normspeed]

John, I've had good luck with Autolite 306 plugs gapped at .028.

[Norm's Coupe]

Hate to tell u this but if you want better results change to auto lite r 45 gaped at 35. I regretfully ( i used to run j6j all the time) have had to give up on champions- There might be others better than auto lite but they really make a difference to me

Lou

Lou, Did you mean to say AC R45's? That's what I use. The correct Auto Lite plug number is 303. I tried those too but like the AC's better.

[Don Coatney]

AC sparkplugs are so named for Albert Champion

[BobT-47P15]

Just found the box.....I put Autolite 303 in this last time. (Think that was what was there before anyway.) They seem to work just fine.

[Guest rockabillybassman]

Honestly, Champions are the worst plugs out there. I've got lot's of friends who are mechanics, and every one of them will say the same thing. I replaced the plugs in my 1954 Ford Zephyr 6(English) with Champions and it ran rough. Pulled them and stuck in the crossmatched NGKs and it was smooth as silk. Convinced me.

[Lou Earle]

I did mean AC they work just fine for me in about 12 cars

[Plymouthy Adams]

Champion spark plugs are ideal for throwing at stray dogs on your property.

[John Mulders]

Tim,

wouldn't know, my property is fenced and 4 dogs are guarding it

John

[Plymouthy Adams]

We get an occassional stray dog and it amazes me that as far out in the coutry there are not more. And for the record I don't throw things or shoot them with a BB gun..I usually just yell and they run. I have armadillo's digging holes in the yard, threated to shoot them but usually just stand still..they never look up..they come right up and walk on your feet if you stand still..that is when I stomp the ground and yell out..it is funny as can be to see them run..they be quick when they want to be. I have not been a fan of Champion plugs since about 1970...we stocked Champion plugs and at least 2 of 8 would go south aafter about one week or so into a new tune up..this recheck eat into the profit margin heavily...went with AC Delco and Motorcraft after that...The tree rats (squirrels) are carry off and eating every peach on my tree..it was pretty much loaded with peaches..oh well, its been dry, food is scare, guess they have to eat also. In my younger days it would be tree rat and rice time.

[55 Fargo]

Tim, at my place, and I am more rural than you, I think. We don't get too many stray dogs either. My old pooch chases them away, but we do get Coyotes, the odd Timber Wolf. They can sometimes try and lure the old dog out, but she is smart and stays put in the yard. The Deer are so plentiful, they can be a nusaince, in my area, the deer hunt can only be done with bow, or muzzle loader or shotgun.Last night the fireflies were putting on a good light show, we get a lot of critturs around here at times, the odd Black Bear, but nothing fancy as an Armidillo.........Fred

[Don Coatney]

We get an occassional stray dog and it amazes me that as far out in the coutry there are not more. And for the record I don't throw things or shoot them with a BB gun..I usually just yell and they run. I have armadillo's digging holes in the yard, threated to shoot them but usually just stand still..they never look up..they come right up and walk on your feet if you stand still..that is when I stomp the ground and yell out..it is funny as can be to see them run..they be quick when they want to be. I have not been a fan of Champion plugs since about 1970...we stocked Champion plugs and at least 2 of 8 would go south aafter about one week or so into a new tune up..this recheck eat into the profit margin heavily...went with AC Delco and Motorcraft after that...The tree rats (squirrels) are carry off and eating every peach on my tree..it was pretty much loaded with peaches..oh well, its been dry, food is scare, guess they have to eat also. In my younger days it would be tree rat and rice time.

Tim;

I have seen ground hogs climb trees to eat the fruit.

Does armidillo taste better with barby sauce?

[Plymouthy Adams]

Don, have never eaten armadillo, but worked with a lady from Texas that says that they had an annual roundup of armadillo and that they were excellent on the barby...

As for the ground hog in the tree..I have never seen that but would not surprise me either as a hungry animal will to to extremes to find food. I got to see a number of groundhog while in WV couple weeks back..they tend to be a favorite animal with the varmint hunters...useless sport...I mean where is the sport even at 300 yards with a match loaded cartridge and Remmington 700 varmit rifle. I say arm the wood chucks...maybe they could thin the deer population...and by the way..I don't recommend you hitting an armadillo at speed with your car...they solid little chunks.