How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Augusta Township, MI
Posts: 454
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1985 IROC-Z
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
Sorry if this is obvious or easy, I've never built an engine before...
I'm going to be installing my 383 stroker soon, not sure how to choose the proper plugs. Do I just go with the ones the 350 for the same year calls for? I've read some posts that recommend shorter plugs when running headers (as I am), but other than that I'm a bit lost as where to start.
If it matters, this will be a 383 with the HSR, approximately 400 HP. Thanks.
I'm going to be installing my 383 stroker soon, not sure how to choose the proper plugs. Do I just go with the ones the 350 for the same year calls for? I've read some posts that recommend shorter plugs when running headers (as I am), but other than that I'm a bit lost as where to start.
If it matters, this will be a 383 with the HSR, approximately 400 HP. Thanks.
#2
Moderator
iTrader: (14)
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Littleton, CO USA
Posts: 43,169
Likes: 0
Received 36 Likes
on
34 Posts
Car: 82 Berlinetta/57 Bel Air
Engine: LS1/LQ4
Transmission: 4L60E/4L80E
Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
Spark plugs depend upon the heads. You go up or down in heat range based on how it does when you get it running and use it like you intend to use it.
#3
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Augusta Township, MI
Posts: 454
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1985 IROC-Z
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
Okay, that makes sense...suggestion for a good starting point? This is not a daily driver, more of a weekend warrior or nighttime cruiser. Not planning on taking it to the strip or anything.
#4
Senior Member
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: London ON Canada
Posts: 632
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
Car: 87 IROC
Re: How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
As five7kid says, match the plug to the head. If your running a vortec style head make sure you get the right plugs for the head. When i used a set of GM vortec heads on one of my older cars, they needed plugs that are longer than your standard GM plug (R44ts). The standard plug sat maybe an 1/8 of an inch inside the head when you looked at the combustion chamber.
#5
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Augusta Township, MI
Posts: 454
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1985 IROC-Z
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
They are Edelbrock Performer RPM heads; on their website, they recommend Champion RC12YC plugs. Seems like a good place to start.
#6
Supreme Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: knoxville tn
Posts: 2,036
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes
on
5 Posts
Car: 86 IROC
Engine: 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 700-R-4
Axle/Gears: 2.73 open
Re: How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
you cant beat good ol AC plugs,i think they make shorties for header use too. the thing to remember is this;as the compression rto goes up,the heat range of the plugs goes down. r-44s work well till you go over ,say 9.5-1 then its r-43s for you and so on
#7
Supreme Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,890
Received 910 Likes
on
597 Posts
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
NO champions unless u have a lawn mower..
I use FR3LS or FR5LS mostly.. that maybe older delco numbers.
Trending Topics
#8
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Augusta Township, MI
Posts: 454
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1985 IROC-Z
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
No Champion plugs. Got it. What is the best (or a good) plug to get? Not worried about cost, just want something good.
#9
Supreme Member
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 26,499
Received 1,857 Likes
on
1,415 Posts
Car: Yes
Engine: Usually
Transmission: Sometimes
Axle/Gears: Behind me somewhere
Re: How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
Nothing wrong with Champions. They're just yerbasic stock plug. Racers have been using em for years by preference because the steps between heat ranges are smaller in that brand than in others.
R12YC crosses to about a R45TS in AC Delco. Equally basic. Which that # I believe is the stock one for most of these cars anyway... meaning, look up the stock plugs for your year with a 305 in whatever brand you choose, and what you get will be the right thread, heat range, etc.
Any of the OEM grade plug mfrs will work fine. AC Delco, Champion, NGK, ND, Bosch or Motorcraft. Avoid any kind of "gimmick" plugs; for example, the regular stock Bosch equivalent to the R45TS, NOT the "+4" or any of that. No "Splitfire", no "Ewhatever", none of that wallet-draining monkey-spank. Just, yerbasic stock replacement. No sense spending extra money just to shoot yourself in the shorts with a bunch of marketing hype that will only cause you problems.
Rest assured that among all the variables affecting engine performance, spark plug choice is WAY down low on the list. As long as they FIT and WORK, that's about 95% of the battle.
R12YC crosses to about a R45TS in AC Delco. Equally basic. Which that # I believe is the stock one for most of these cars anyway... meaning, look up the stock plugs for your year with a 305 in whatever brand you choose, and what you get will be the right thread, heat range, etc.
Any of the OEM grade plug mfrs will work fine. AC Delco, Champion, NGK, ND, Bosch or Motorcraft. Avoid any kind of "gimmick" plugs; for example, the regular stock Bosch equivalent to the R45TS, NOT the "+4" or any of that. No "Splitfire", no "Ewhatever", none of that wallet-draining monkey-spank. Just, yerbasic stock replacement. No sense spending extra money just to shoot yourself in the shorts with a bunch of marketing hype that will only cause you problems.
Rest assured that among all the variables affecting engine performance, spark plug choice is WAY down low on the list. As long as they FIT and WORK, that's about 95% of the battle.
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Augusta Township, MI
Posts: 454
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Car: 1985 IROC-Z
Engine: 383
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.73
Re: How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
Great. Thanks for the good info.
#11
Supreme Member
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Il
Posts: 11,890
Received 910 Likes
on
597 Posts
Car: 1989-92 FORMULA350 305 92 Hawkclone
Engine: 4++,350 & 305 CIs
Transmission: 700R4 4800 vig 18th700R4 t56 ZF6 T5
Axle/Gears: 3.70 9"ford alum chunk,dana44,9bolt
Re: How do I choose proper spark plugs for my build?
My cuz worked at Champion several years ago in the R&D department. He told me many storys about how 1 in 4 plugs were "good"..
Use the info how you want.
Use the info how you want.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
evilstuie
Exhaust
24
02-28-2016 03:33 PM
eightsixseven
Tech / General Engine
1
08-14-2015 03:09 PM