New spark plugs, more power

[Stegs]

im going to napa to get a set for my car....keep the old ones around just in case

[myk]

Yup, I just bought a set from Summit.




Lol, look at all of us rushing to get instant-horsepower to our cars...

[johnnycharger]

Thanks Ron!!!! I just ordered them! 

[c00nhunterjoe]

Well i typically change my plugs yearly... do i need to? Nah, but its habit.... havnt swapped them out this yeat so i think i may give the ngk's a try.

What plugs do you normally run ?  Are they staying clean ? 

The XR5's seem to work very well with pump gas compression street/strip builds from my experience 


Ron

I run Factory replacement autolites. 85's if memory serves me.Nothing fancy here. They are clean. Lots of tweaking and tuning was done to get everything in order. I run no choke and she fires right up in any weather and is drivable, it will idle all day long without loading up, plugs are always clean. I doubt in my case that the ngk's will run any different.

[grdprx]

Ron or Todd, any details as far as why the plugs woke up the Mopar?

Far as prices, I just goggled them and highest prices was $3.50 a plug and lowest was $1.45. For a $1.45 it be worth trying after I get some details.

http://www.stylintrucks.com/parts/ngk_v-power_spark_plug_-_xr5/23558/ngkng3332-.aspx#

Link to lowest prices.

Cuda Ken

Thanks for the link!  My order showed up today!

[firefighter3931]

Well i typically change my plugs yearly... do i need to? Nah, but its habit.... havnt swapped them out this yeat so i think i may give the ngk's a try.

What plugs do you normally run ?  Are they staying clean ? 

The XR5's seem to work very well with pump gas compression street/strip builds from my experience 


Ron

I run Factory replacement autolites. 85's if memory serves me.Nothing fancy here. They are clean. Lots of tweaking and tuning was done to get everything in order. I run no choke and she fires right up in any weather and is drivable, it will idle all day long without loading up, plugs are always clean. I doubt in my case that the ngk's will run any different.

Just checked and the 85's cross reference to an XR5 so the heat range is identical. If you do go with the NGK's it'll be interesting to hear how well they work for you. 

From my experience the NGK's seem to stay clean longer and are less prone to fouling. 


Ron

[myk]

NGK's go in tomorrow.  Maybe I'll wear the old Bosch's as body jewelry...

[Stegs]

I installed ngk xr5 plugs last night and the car runs awesome....idles way better and is smoother....as far as performance, butt dyno says its better. I enjoy the smoothness of the motor most, but that could be with fresh oil and filter too


Plugs on a 440 are a pain in the A** to do....drivers side wasn't too bad, passenger side I did from under the car....I don't want to do that again! 


xr5 plugs review from me...I give them a 100% positive review

[myk]

I installed my NGK's right before tonight's cruise.  The 440 is a big motor, but changing them out isn't as bad as it is on my '97 LT1 Camaro.  I will admit that plugs 4 and 6 were a bit of a pain.  In any case, every one of our car's is different, but on my car I felt a definite improvement over the Bosch's that I've had in there for years.  Smoother idle, better throttle response, a little better pull up to the redline.  Plugs are gapped at .040 and they're fed by 8mm Taylor wires from my MP distributor and an ancient MSD6 box.  I just don't get it-how can a spark plug make a difference?

By the way, since we're talking about plugs, these are the Bosch's that I pulled out of the 440.  What are these plugs saying?

 
Plugs 1, 3, 5, 7



Plugs 2, 4, 6, 8

 

[firefighter3931]

 Smoother idle, better throttle response, a little better pull up to the redline.  Plugs are gapped at .040 and they're fed by 8mm Taylor wires from my MP distributor and an ancient MSD6 box.  I just don't get it-how can a spark plug make a difference?

Good stuff Myk  I'm guessing that the old plugs were the wrong heat range but the jetting looks fine. The "right" heat range makes a huge difference. The NGK's just seem to flat out work as long as the heat range is properly selected. 

I installed ngk xr5 plugs last night and the car runs awesome....idles way better and is smoother....as far as performance, butt dyno says its better. I enjoy the smoothness of the motor most, but that could be with fresh oil and filter too


Plugs on a 440 are a pain in the A** to do....drivers side wasn't too bad, passenger side I did from under the car....I don't want to do that again! 


xr5 plugs review from me...I give them a 100% positive review

Not surprised to hear this report. Glad to hear she's running cleaner & stronger 



Ron

[familymopar]

When I first got my 440 Charger, I immediately set about changing the fluids, filter, checking pads/shoes, etc. and also changed out the plugs.  I too went with the same NGK v-power XR5's (mfr part #3332).  I did so many small maintenance things right off the bat that I can't say fully that the plugs made a huge difference, but I certainly feel like they did.  I have been running them for about 2 years now and like them very much.  I do not recall exactly what I gapped them to now but they are running very very well.  I highly recommend as well.

I did get a rev-n-nator at one point and started to have some issues with spark being delivered.  I have wondered if it was a bad combo with the plugs but I honestly doubt it.  I went back to a regular mopar orange box and have had no more problems.

NOTE: Please do not take this post as a bad review of the rev-n-nator.  Their customer service is excellent and all indications are that their products are great.  I have yet to put the work into figuring out what my particular problem was.  I will work on it more in time as I really want the limiter.  I never did even disable the vacuum advance (as recommended but they say often unnecessary).  I don't think that was my problem as the problem was as persistent at idle.  Anyway, not to get off topic but I do not want anyone being turned off of them because of my singular experience that I think may be user error.  Although tapping it with a screwdriver did seem to help.  But that helps everything.

[chargd72]

How are the NGK gr4 plugs for small block?  Anyone running them?

[c00nhunterjoe]

I pulled a few plugs tonight and im up in the air on changing them. Car ru s good with no idle issues. I cant see how changing to ngks will make a difference in my application.

These plugs have a year and a half on them and approx 5000 miles. Lots of idling, 3000 rpm cruising and more then their fair shares of 1/4 mile passes.

[firefighter3931]

Nice coloring on the porcelin, and ground strap....heat range looks good. The base threads are showing slightly rich but i wouldn't be overly concerned. Better a bit rich than too lean. 


Ron

[c00nhunterjoe]

Nice coloring on the porcelin, and ground strap....heat range looks good. The base threads are showing slightly rich but i wouldn't be overly concerned. Better a bit rich than too lean. 


Ron

Yup! I dont want change the jetting any. its pretty happy where its at and im afraid if i drop to 68's i will risk a lean condition when im cruising since i cruise at 3k and full advance....

[don duick]

does anybody know if NGK make an equivalent plug for the aluminium edelbrock heads? I am using NGK BKR6E-11 in a 440 with 750 holley and size 72 jets and 6.5 power valve. My plugs are totally black all over. Don't feel like I am getting the performance I should have.

[firefighter3931]

does anybody know if NGK make an equivalent plug for the aluminium edelbrock heads? I am using NGK BKR6E-11 in a 440 with 750 holley and size 72 jets and 6.5 power valve. My plugs are totally black all over. Don't feel like I am getting the performance I should have.

Don,

I used the NGK BCPR6ES plugs in mine with the 446 ; pump gas compression, RPM heads and big solid cam. Plugs allways stayed clean 

How is your ignition system ? Spark color ?



Ron

[don duick]

thanks for reply Ron, My Ignition system is all MSD - distributor, blaster coil and 6A box  color of spark is blue and orange  very bright, fat and powerful.  When I switched to the MSD there was a  noticeable improvement in power. So I assume it is working well. I will look for the plug you have recommended.

[firefighter3931]

thanks for reply Ron, My Ignition system is all MSD - distributor, blaster coil and 6A box  color of spark is blue and orange  very bright, fat and powerful.  When I switched to the MSD there was a  noticeable improvement in power. So I assume it is working well. I will look for the plug you have recommended.

It sounds like you have a nice strong spark  I too like the 6AL box and have been running the same one for years. 

The heat range on the BCPR6ES plugs is perfect for a pump gas/aluminum head type street build 


Ron

[charge69]

Firefighter3931:  Will this plug (BCPR6ES) also work on an original Iron-head 426 HEMI with a true 11 to 1 compression? MSD Digital 6 ignition, MSD Coil, MSD billet distributor and 8.5mm wires. Strong spark but have fouling issues. Gonna check carb float levels and settings.  Vacuum gauge shows 12 psi and, maybe, a little more with proper adjustment.

This MSD box has a setting that sets the advance at 0 degrees on startup and goes to 15 degrees advance at 800rpm. 35 degrees is the setting for total advance and no pinging on pump gas.

[johnnycharger]

I finally got a free evening to swap the plugs! Thanks for the suggestion Ron and for the link to the inexpensive website Cudaken! 
I haven't taken it for a drive yet but intend to tomorrow evening.  Here is a picture of the Bosch platinum plugs that I did have installed. This is the first time I have seen this....the electrodes are half tan and half dark in each plug  .

[myk]

My Bosch's came out like that as well.  Ideas anyone?

[green69rt]

I finally got a free evening to swap the plugs! Thanks for the suggestion Ron and for the link to the inexpensive website Cudaken! 
I haven't taken it for a drive yet but intend to tomorrow evening.  Here is a picture of the Bosch platinum plugs that I did have installed. This is the first time I have seen this....the electrodes are half tan and half dark in each plug  .

Maybe the side that faces the intake valve gets washed by fuel vapor.  It would be hard to prove unless you made a mark on the spark plug to keep track of its position.

[firefighter3931]

Firefighter3931:  Will this plug (BCPR6ES) also work on an original Iron-head 426 HEMI with a true 11 to 1 compression? MSD Digital 6 ignition, MSD Coil, MSD billet distributor and 8.5mm wires. Strong spark but have fouling issues. Gonna check carb float levels and settings.  Vacuum gauge shows 12 psi and, maybe, a little more with proper adjustment.

This MSD box has a setting that sets the advance at 0 degrees on startup and goes to 15 degrees advance at 800rpm. 35 degrees is the setting for total advance and no pinging on pump gas.

Not sure what plug fits in a hemi but if you give me your current plug part # i'll do some research and come up with an appropriate cross reference to NGK. 

The engine might want more than 15* at idle....each combo is different depending on cam/compression etc...

A rich AFR or too cold of a plug can cause fouling. Weak ignition system will also cause dirty plugs but that should not be an issue with your current setup 


Ron

[charge69]

Forgot to mention:  I am running a one-off CompCams hyd roller cam with these specs" Gross valve lift Intake .596  Exh .577  duration @ .006 tappet lift is 304 for intake & exh.   valve timing a .050  Open Int 14 BTDC  Exh 54 BBDC   Close  Int. 54 ABDC   Exh 14 ATDC

Cam specs for cam installed @ 110.00 intake center line

Duration @ 050  Intake 248   Exh 248 
Lobe lift both  .3800
Lobe separation  110.0

The shop installed Champion RN12YC in it and that is what is still there.