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roger, if you are speaking of judging classes, the best place to find the info is in the NCRS "Judging reference manual" it has all the information you will need to understand what options are available and just what constitutes a candidate for a particular area of judging.
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Spark plug problems
Yesterday I tuned a bit more on my 62, (setting the timing to 38 deg total advance, tweaking idle rpm etc.) Seemed like I had it running perfectly. Took the bride for a short trip down to the ice cream parlor amd by the time I got back it was running pretty rough. I have come to the conclusion that most of my problems with this engine are ignition related, and that the fuel injection is probably working fine.
I pulled the spark plugs to see if I could determine what was going on, and I immediately found the problem. Three of the plugs were totally grounded. Teh side electrode was bent over and touching the center electrode. Another was bent down to the point that it had about a .010 gap. The others looked fine. They were sort of black around the outside, probably left over from some of the mixture problems I had encountered earlier. The centers were starting to clear up and had the tan color they are supposed to.
Now, how the plugs got this way is my question. I'm pretty confident they were not like this when installed. I'm not getting that senile. Is this a sign of detonation? I can't hear any pinging, but between a sort of loud exhaust and my poor hearing that doesn't mean much. Other possibility is hitting the piston? I do not know what type piston this engine has other than they are forged and supposedly the engine has about a 10:1 CR. I assume flat top pistons, but I really don't know and don't have any way of finding out other than a teardown. The plugs that were in the engine when I bought the car were Bosh plugs, and they have a little shorter reach (about 1/8") than the Autolite 25's I currently have installed. I also do not know for sure that the timing mark on my balancer exactly lines up with TDC, so there is a possibility the the total advance is in excess of 38 deg. This engine likes lots of advance. The more it's got, the better it runs. But, I wonder if I need to back off a few deg.
HELLLLLLP!!!! -
Re: Spark plug problems
What is the exact make and model number of the installed plugs? Are they the extended tip type. These should not contact the pistons on a production machined engine with the factory domed pistons, but maybe your engine is internally different.
DukeComment
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Re: Spark plug problems
Plugs are Autolite 25's. I don't believe these would be considered the extended tip variety, but they are a bit longer than the Bosh plugs that came with the carComment
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Re: Spark plug problems
Autolite 25 cross references to an AC R43TS in my AC catalog, which is both WAY too cold and has incorrect geometry for your engine if they are production heads. Is this a taper seat plug?
Suggest an AC 45 or, or the AC 45S extended tip. Equivalent are Champion J8C and Y14YC respectively.
DukeComment
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Re: Spark plug problems
I had a similar thing happen many years ago with a 62/340hp. Champion had just switched to the "Y" or extended tip design. The plugs I got replaced the standard old ones (same heat range) The box even stated "replaces J8"( Not certain about the number). My car ran great until I got on it going for a test drive. After a frustrating hour of trouble shooting I found the gaps were closed up on two or three plug and the others were very small. I surmised that the extended tips had actually hit the pistons and put A/C's it it. They WERE noticable shorter. No problems after that. Proof came a few months later when I changed a head gasket. There were small dings in a couple of pistons in the correct spot to have been caused by a spark plug tip and there was no carbon build up in the dinged spot. Mystery solved. No more Champion plus for me!!Comment
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Re: Spark plug problems
Ed, No mystery here, your pistons are hitting and closing the gap on a few of the spark plugs. Not uncommon in the early days of 11 1/4 cr F.I. pistons. Might be partly due to a little carbon build up on the piston,that never helps. It would help to know what pistons you really have in your engine and what the compression truly is. Your engine responding to a lot of total advance would suggest a high compression ratio. Switch spark plugs to a type that is not extended tip + a reasonable street heat range. Hope this helps.Comment
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Re: Spark plug problems
These are the plugs recommend by the good Rev. Course he has never had the opportunity to look in the engine either. Supposedly the Autolite 25 crosses to the AC 45/46 TS. Yes, the engine has later model heads and the plugs are taper seat. Apparently, the AC 46 is no longer produced. According to information from this board, Autolite plugs have a solid core and are presumed to be more reliable. Guess I'll try some AC 45TS unless someone can recommend something better.Comment
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Re: Spark plug problems
ED, Autolite 25 plugs are tapered seat, and have the extended nose. If you want an equivalent plug without the extented tip, use R44T or R45T, which is one heat range hotter. I sell mostly Autolite plugs in my store, and they are great.Comment
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Re: Spark plug problems
Ed, if you remember setting the plugs gap prior to installation w/out dropping any or any possible way the gap could have gotten closed prior to installation the only object to make contact would be the pistons.
I'd go back to the orignal plugs you used to use that never had this problem and see if it effects the gaps on those plugs.
Good luck,grr#33570Comment
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Autolite 25
is an extended tip washer-less peanut type plug that can't possibly be used in a 461 X head. Even the reach is incorrect. Outer electrodes getting bent over indicates contact with the pistons or mechanical damage inside the cylinder. If piston contact is occuring, not all plugs will contact the pistions unless indexed such as to allow it. Tell us your head type.
Dale.Comment
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Re: Spark plug problems
As Joe suggested I have installed some R45T's. Everything seems to be ok after a short, low speed test drive. What would the Autolite equivlent be?Comment
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Re: Was I the only person that was hesitant
I intended for the title to be humorous. I would like to apologize if I have offended anyone. I'm new here and I guess I'm not very aware of the 'community standards'.
I appreciate the existence of this message board, especially the lack of personal friction that exists on the internet news groups. I have learned a great deal already by lurking here and examining the archives.
Apologies and thanks Randy Stockberger #32888Comment
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Re: Was I the only person that was hesitant
Randy, no apologies are needed. I can't imagine anyone being offended when you intentionally leave the door open for a little good natured ribbing. GaryComment
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