I know i need new plugs. always used stock champion plugs in my 76 d100 318 but they fowl quick. Might just be my 32 year old engine doing that. I heard in the b series van forum autolight had a better quality plug. In by b2500 i used champion truck plugs n they worked well. Any suggestions this time around for the old pickup?
fins2fuselage
12-27-2008, 10:04 PM
Dodged,
If your plugs are fouling quickly, they are most likely not getting a sufficiently hot spark. It could also be caused by too much gas, but I am betting on insufficient fire.
I use only Bosch Platinum plugs in all of my vehicles. I have yet to experience a failure; in fact, I have yet to replace any of them in the course of routine maintenance -- and I tend to keep my vehicles a looong time.
Do yourself a favor and change your plug wires at the same time. Resistor plug wires may look OK, but they develop too much resistance over time. I have seen them develop so much resistance that the plugs will not fire and the vehicle will not start at all -- won't even hit a single lick. And change your cap and rotor, too. A hairline crack in the cap and/or a rotor burnt thorugh to the distributor shaft could easily cause your rough idle.
In other words, a thorough tune-up with high-quality parts is in order.
Jeff
dodged100
12-28-2008, 09:01 AM
ok thanx man do u think i should upgrade to performance wires or just get duralast or something from autozone
bherder
12-28-2008, 10:42 AM
I made the mistake once of buying 'econo' plug wires.. But it was more a matter of I needed plug wires but couldn't afford $100.00 for a set....
Anyway, they lasted about 9 months. I was having real bad running probs with my truck, and was blaming everything BUT the wires, thinking 'Hell, they're almost new' .... After replacing a bunch of parts that didn't need replacing, just for the hell of it, I replaced the wires with some good ones... Bingo, problem solved.
Anyway, after replacing parts that didn't need it, I could have bought the best-of-the-best plug wires to begin with... Lesson learned ;)
I would say, you'd have to spent at least $50.00 for a good set of wires.
Don't skimp on cap and rotor either. Get nice heavy-duty ones with brass/copper inserts ... NOT the junky aluminum ones. My personal favorite is Standard Ignition 'Blue Streak' ... But there are other good ones out there also.
fins2fuselage
12-28-2008, 01:33 PM
ok thanx man do u think i should upgrade to performance wires or just get duralast or something from autozone
Dodged,
I usually buy the "custom" (application-specific) wires from NAPA and I have had good luck with 'em.
Jeff
bherder
12-28-2008, 02:27 PM
Personally, I wouldn't buy anything electrical from Autozone. They have a rep for selling garbage...
As Jeff says (Insert 'A good set' in front of these) NAPA, Autolite, Accel, Standard Ignition, maybe Bosch (Never tried em') ... Would all be good choices. (There are others too, but spending $150+ for a set of wires is getting ridiculous for what we are doing)
Also, like Jeff, I prefer the 'pre-made' ones also... Unless it's a 'show' engine, a wire being an inch or two too long, who cares? As long as it works.
I'm running Autolite 8mm silicone wires on mine right now for about 2-3 years and they've been flawless.. (I probably just jinxed myself ;) ) ...
charlie1935
12-28-2008, 02:32 PM
All my vehicles have aftermarket spiral ignition wires. Borg Warner has good reasonable priced ones. :gr_patrio
Megunticook
12-28-2008, 04:43 PM
Here's my 2 cents.
I've always run regular old Champion plugs in my '73 W100 (and in my '70 D100 before that). Check the gap before you install them, and obviously note if there are any defects before you install (I've never had to return a plug). I keep my engines tuned pretty fussy and have never had anything but good performance from these plugs.
I put a set of Standard Ignition brand wires in my truck back 8 years ago and have never had issues with them either (although it's high time to replace them just in the name of preventive maintenance!). Can't recall the price, they weren't cheap but weren't outrageous, either.
Handle these wires carefully, mind how you seat them, and do change that distributor cap and rotor periodically (I used to do mine about once a year, but it's been a few years now since the last one). Blue Streak (Standard Motor Products premium line) is an excellent choice. NAPA Echlin also used to make a good one--but haven't bought one of theirs in a few years.
Good luck. Spend the extra on quality parts, for sure, but don't get roped into a bunch of expensive "high performance" plugs and other such things. Just my opinion.
volaredon
12-28-2008, 08:02 PM
I hav e never had good luck with Bosch plugs; other Bosch products: yeah Ive had good luck with; but I would not buy a Bosch plug for a lawnmower; also avoid AC's in ANY Mopar unless you like radio noise.
dodged100
12-29-2008, 07:25 AM
thanx for all the info I will probably get champion truck plugs, accel wires and do you know if that make an accel cap n rotor for a 318 distrbutor. Might as well put a high performance coil in it as well while im at it.
charlie1935
12-29-2008, 09:24 AM
I've used Champions for 55 years and have no complaints. :gr_patrio
Megunticook
12-29-2008, 09:38 AM
The Standard Premium set is on closeout at Rock Auto for $12--#7829. I found my old receipt from 8 years ago and this is the same set I've had on my motor all this time (cost $40 at AutoZone back then).
I just ordered a replacement set--sounds like they have a few more left.
About the coil--I'm running a Mopar high performance coil now but have a Blue Streak (Standard) on my parts shelf for a spare, that's probably what I would get if I were you.
dodged100
12-29-2008, 11:05 AM
I havent heard of this blue streak but all u guys are saying its good. Where can I find it. I always thought accel, msd and mallory were the best.
Megunticook
12-29-2008, 03:00 PM
Blue Streak is Standard Motor Products premium brand. I'm not sure which stores carry it, you can definitely order it online at Rock Auto and other places. I have a hunch Autozone can get pretty quick, too, but I haven't tried. I generally buy stuff online because it's cheaper and more convenient.
I've found that most of the products sold by Standard Motor products are decent quality (although steer clear of "Tru-Tech", their value-brand). But recently I bought one of their voltage regulators and it said "Made in China" whereas the previous one I bought a year ago was U.S. made. But I guess that's kind of the trend in all industries now.
volaredon
12-29-2008, 07:43 PM
Car Quest products, though reboxed from the actual company that makes them, are sourced from Standard Motor Prods; they sell a "red box" (cheapie; Auto Zone competeitve line) "blue box" much better parts and in the most popular numbers, a premium "gold" box line of parts, most of which offer very little price difference between grades; you are not paying retail if you do it yourself nor are you paying normal hourly "flat rape"; so that leaves plenty of cushion to go for the best parts they got.
beatersdigest
12-30-2008, 03:56 AM
If you want a real obvious boost in idle quality, starting, and power: consider the Iridium IX series plug from NGK. I put a set in my 86 318 and it woke right up. The old ones weren't even in poor condition. They can be spendy depending on your source, but they are a great plug.
dodged100
12-30-2008, 07:15 AM
well i figureif Im going to do a tune up I should do it right. I will probably use a champion plug first to make sure I dont fowl them quickly cause I would hate to spend $6 on plugs that will last me a month cause my rings are shot
dodged100
12-30-2008, 07:15 AM
that is $ 6 per plug
bherder
12-30-2008, 10:31 AM
Without getting in to fancy-dancy plugs, whats the difference between a 'regular' plug, and a 'truck' plug?
chad1972
12-30-2008, 10:42 AM
truck plug is a little hotter of a plug,not much, ive used them on my older dodges with grest results, its a black champion plug. I also used either napa premium wires about 60-80 bucks a set. lasted forever. use msd 8.5mm on my 97 5.2 310,000 miles on that truck accel does make a cap and rotor, make sure you get the ones w/ brass studs. I think napa has them too.
charlie1935
12-30-2008, 04:26 PM
ias always under the impression that the truck plugs were a little colder because of the conditions a lot of trucks work under. Of course I could be wrong also. I was once, I think. ;):gr_patrio
Speed Dragon
01-02-2009, 12:18 AM
I bought a set of the Autolite Professional wires for one of my trucks once. Lasted about 6 or 8 months. Bought Accel 8mm Super Stocks for about the same money, and I'm still using them on the Diplomat, like 4-5 years later now.
dodged100
01-02-2009, 11:47 AM
well when i just went to autozone up the street to get my champion truck plugs they said they dont carry them anymore, so i just got the stock champion. I gotta figure out my my plugs are blacker than black first before I pay for better plugs
Megunticook
01-02-2009, 03:51 PM
Yeah, don't spend a bunch of money on fancy plugs before you figure out the source of the fouling. Can you post a picture of one? I wonder if it's black carbon (over rich mixture) or fouled by oil...
Personally, I think the stock Champions work just fine if the rest of the motor is healthy and tuned.
chad1972
01-02-2009, 08:03 PM
ias always under the impression that the truck plugs were a little colder because of the conditions a lot of trucks work under. Of course I could be wrong also. I was once, I think. ;):gr_patrio
no, you could be right. I just know they worked really well. and inexpensive too.
Speed Dragon
01-02-2009, 11:30 PM
Champion RN12YC's are the factory plugs, Autolite 65's are the equivalent also. Never had problems w/ either so far.
Autoglass
01-03-2009, 10:28 AM
Well, My .02,,,,,
Just tuned up my 99 1500 with truck plugs.
What I took out was Champion 3071, they're generic / COLD plugs :bawl:
Put in Champion 4436 Truck Plugs Hotter heat range, :hyper:
WWOOWW!!!!!!!
Better idle, faster response on the throttle,
AANNDD!!!!!!!!
Better Fuel Mileage!!!!! :SPIN:
bherder
01-03-2009, 10:54 AM
Well, My .02,,,,,
Just tuned up my 99 1500 with truck plugs.
What I took out was Champion 3071, they're generic / COLD plugs
Put in Champion 4436 Truck Plugs Hotter heat range,
WWOOWW!!!!!!!
Better idle, faster response on the throttle,
AANNDD!!!!!!!!
Better Fuel Mileage!!!!!
Were the 4436's the "recommended" plugs for your truck, or did you just decide to go a step hotter?
Autoglass
01-05-2009, 10:47 AM
Those were the "TRUCK" plug vs a NAPA book recommendation.
Plus I asked to see the difference between the 2 plugs, 4436 was a hotter range plug, I usually drive here in town. Champion lists them as a "TRUCK" plug.
When I had my 1973 Dart Sport, (In My Garage) I put a set of Autolite AGR52 plugs init without any problems.
