I installed some Hooker Super Competition Long tube headers on my '87 IROC. My #7 plug is way too close to the header tube. I'm afraid it will melt the plug boot sice it touches the header. Does anyone make a short plug that is compatible with the following AFR-recommended plugs?

AC Delco FR3LS
Champion RC9YC
Autolite 3910 or 51

It just needs to be 3/4" of thread with a metal gasket seal and in the same heat range.

Does ACCEL make a short plug?


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Phil87IROC
Blue '87 IROC, 383 Crate Motor, KB pistons, AFR 190 heads, ZZ-9 cam, Edelbrock RPM intake, Hooker SC/LT headers, Edelbrock 750 cfm Carb (#1411), stock T-5, GM 3.42 rear w/Auburn posi.
Ohio Valley Dragstrip Trophy Bracket WINNER - 8.39 ET on a 1.82 sec. - 60'. Best MPH = 84.44. Still Tuning Carb!
Red '89 IROC L98, TES, 700R4, T-Tops, K&Ns w/open air boxes, 160 T-stat, Hyper Chip, gutted MAF & CAT, Jacobs Ign., 53kv coil, MSD wires.

 

accel makes a shortie header plug, but they are a pretty penny. i would recomment bosch platinum (regular not +4)

they are the shortest out of all common plugs. (i compared Bosch Platinum, AC, Autolite, splitfire, ngk, champion)

ive heard they are just as short as the accels header plug.

jeez, everybody is doin teh hooker LT thang these days

what did u do about your Knock sensor?

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Rick
90 Camaro RS 305 TBI
400 small block, Hooker 1 3/4 LTs, Random Tech Cat, Hooker aero chamber cat back on the way!!
TH700-R4 with Trans-Go shift kit (corvette servo here...but not installed yet)
MacEwen Motorsports White Gauge Overlays
14" K&N X-Stream Open Element
GTS Headlight and Taillight covers
5% Limo Tint all around
Classic White Chevy Bowtie sticker on rear window
http://www.geocities.com/esvalenz

Man if my camaro were a rice-rocket all those mods would give me what...easily 50-60 hp!!!

"Just because I've done it, doesn't mean I knew what I was doing!" - Me

 

Well, you are kinda stuck. If you do a search in the archives for "AFR angle plug dilema" you will see that Accel does not make a shorty style gasket plug which is what you need. I am guessing that you have the L98 angle plug AFR head? I ran into similar problems but with the standard angle plug head and SLP headers. I bought the Hooker LT's to make my combo work.

 

Oh Black Beauty, you just swap the knock sensor over to the other side of the block

 

I have the AFR 190 heads with the straight plugs. Looks like I am a rare case/combo with the Hooker SC/LT headers. All the plugs look great but this one, #7 cylinder. I did manage to find a Bosch plug that threaded into the hole, but the tip is way too close to the header pipe. I may have to dimple the header at this point unless someone else has some other ideas.

Thanks!

 

Phil,

Check this post out....It explains alot.
https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/...ML/007318.html
I also put the link in your other topic. 406TPI and I went through alot trying to figure things out.

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86 Trans Am WS6 Black with tinted windows, shaved door handles
ZZ4, Mini-ram, true duals, LT4 HotCam, AFR 195 heads.
***Too many other mods to mention***

"In the future, cities will become deserts,
roads will become battlefields, and the hope of mankind
will appear as a stranger" The Road Warrior

 

Steve & 406;

Thanks for your help and I know you feel my pain. My AFR heads are not new so I cannot return or exchage them. I have straight plugged heads too, no angles at all with the plug holes.

Steve, do your Accel U-groove #112 plugs have the "screw" in tip at the boot side of the plug? Is that solution working for you along with all your heat protection stuff?

If you guys can help further that'd be great!
I'm down and out at this point.

Thanks!

 

Phil,

I thought the straight plug heads were a "fit all" type head.....hummmm
How close is the end of your plug to the header?

Steve, did you get that beast running yet?

 

I have 7 AC FR3LS plugs in there now. This plug would not even start in the plug hole so I crossed referenced this plug to a standard Bosch Super plug FR8 DCX with a removable tip on the boot side. Once I get the tip back on there, it's about 3/16" from the tube.......yikes!!!

Do you really think a Bosch platinum will be any better as far as length?

 

Phil,
Yep, the Accel #112 plugs are working fine with the ball ends cut down. It's still a tight fit, but it works. the only one that is still somewhat close on mine is the #1 plug, and that is the one that I have a Taylor Vertex plug boot insulator on. The insulator actually TOUCHES the header, but I haven't fried it yet.

The U-grooves aren't the only plugs that are a little shorter than others, but they were available at the time when I needed plugs. I'm not really into the U-groove gimmick, but like I said they were available. Being that they're Nippondenso (a damn good plug), and that they're a bit shorter is the main reason I got them though. Just take one of your longer plugs with you when you go out looking, and get something that's shorter with a screw-on tip and you should be fine.

By the way the #112 is a heat range....slightly cooler than a standard plug. as you go up in the Accel number, the plugs become hotter.

406TPI,
It's not running too terribly bad right now. The only thing I need to do is re-burn my EEPROM several times until I get the programming correct for my new setup. Trial and error at this point, but so far so good.

I took it to the track a couple weeks ago, and I was able to pull a 12.720 second run at 107mph. Crappy 60-foot times, so I know I can do better. Once I get the tuning in line, I hope to be at 12.5

What about yours? Is it up and running yet?

 

Black Beauty is right- Bosch STANDARD platinums typically are about 1/8"-1/4" shorter than your typical Champion or A/C plug in every application I have used them. There's a good chance they will solve your problem. And they'll last longer than regular plugs, too.

I use them REGULARLY for jsut these types of header-clearance situations. But I liked them so much I started using them in everything I own.

 

Damon,

Thanks for the help. The only thing about the Bosch platinum plugs is the compatibility issue with an MSD and/or Jacobs ignition box. They both warn against using these plugs with their boxes. Maybe it's a myth or non-issue. At this point, I'll get one and try it in cyl#7 to see how it fits and works with the MSD 6AL ignition box I have on the car!!

Does anyone use these plugs with their MSD or other ignition boxes with success?

Thanks!

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Phil87IROC
Blue '87 IROC, 383 Crate Motor, KB pistons, AFR 190 heads, ZZ-9 cam, Edelbrock RPM intake, Hooker SC/LT headers, Edelbrock 750 cfm Carb (#1411), stock T-5, GM 3.42 rear w/Auburn posi.
Ohio Valley Dragstrip Trophy Bracket WINNER - 8.39 ET on a 1.82 sec. - 60'. Best MPH = 84.44. Still Tuning Carb!
Red '89 IROC L98, TES, 700R4, T-Tops, K&Ns w/open air boxes, 160 T-stat, Hyper Chip, gutted MAF & CAT, Jacobs Ign., 53kv coil, MSD wires.

 

I use the bosch with my accel 300 ignition, it works fine. I like the bosch because they are short last a long time and I can usually find them on sale in my area. They usually cost me the same as regular ac delcos, between .79 to 1.30 a peice...