The RS is due for a set soon, and considering I sell them for a living and have been talking out of my *** to customers, I should get some info.


It's always been of my opinion that spark plugs are spark plugs, brands don't really matter, and platinum plugs simply just last longer.

Take for example Bosch +4 plugs, 4 electrodes, WTF! $5.99 each too..

Any opinions? I always just ran ACDelco R44LTSM's or whatever the number is for the Camaro, can't remember off hand. Are "better" spark plugs actually better?

 

I agree with you 100%... Spark plugs are spark plugs. Platinum lasts longer. 4 electrodes are a gimmick.

Heat range, gap, resistor/non resistor and taper seat/gasket seat and reach are the only important things about plugs.

If you want to 'sell' a gimmick that actually works (maybe 1% hp gain, not really a big deal) is to stock some indexing washers.

 

Hard to beat the stock AC plug.

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350 with stealth intake, holley carb, 470 lift cam. 700r4 with .5 boost valve, vette servo, tci lock-up kit, B&M megashifter. Richmond 3.73 gears, powertrax locker, timkin bearings, synthetic lube. Custom 3 inch single into 2 2.5 pipes. 1 1/2 drop springs, 1 5/16 solid front sway bar, 1 inch rear bar, custom subframe connectors, custom LCA relocation brackets. Kobel ground FX, currant red metallic paint. Lots of other stuff...
82camaro

 

delco rapidfire!!!!

 

I like my delco Rapidfire's as well and agree on the gimmick thing. Don't buy into it. That just like the K&N filter giving u better gas mileage and 15hp.

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Eric Natzke
91 Firebird 305 TBI
"It Ain't Stock"
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/91firebird.html
For info on certain parts or mods go to the site below
http://members.aol.com/j007golden/modeval.html

 

I've always used plain ol' stock AC Delcos. If you absolutely must spend extra money on your ignition system, spend it on the wires rather than the plugs.

 

I won't even use Rapidfires, too damn expensive..

 

+1 more for the side agreeing that plugs are plugs and anything more is a gimmick.

I use stock AC Delco plugs in my car and it runs fine. If you are gonna spend more money in the ignition system, get either 8mm wires or if you already have them, get a MSD 6A[L].

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1989 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
L98 - 350c.i. TPI, rebuilt 700R4 auto w/shift kit, Dual catalyst Monza PaceSetter Cat-Back, SLP 1 5/8 Coated Headers, 3.23 Posi rear, Hypertech chip with 160stat, MSD 6A, Under-Drive pulleys, AFPR, K&N's, !Air Box w/ Ram Air, moddified MAF, !TB Coolant, Spohn Dual Cat SubFrame Connectors, Alarm, Keyless entry, remote starter, 92 Z28 AeroWing, Brand New Paint (6/21/01)

Future: ZZ4 TPI w/EGR, T56, 3.42 or 3.73, Spohn strut tower brace and LCA's, Accell 24# injectors

1989 Chevrolet Celebrity Eurosport <--DEAD AS OF 9/20/01
2.8 MPFI, no mods
225,000 miles and still ticking!

More info and pics on my webpage:http://go.to/iroc-z

AOL IMer: GPA 0point0

 

Redguardless of how many electrodes the plugs have thier still only going to get so much spark. The +4 are great if you have the cash, they last quite a bit longer but think, 1 of those plugs cost almost as much a 8 regular 99c AC's and for spark output all of them are about equal.
SSC

 

yep, but i went up one step and just through in rapidfires, for get all that dual triple and +4 crap.

EDIT: and the number is easy to remember for teh rapidfires.......1, i like that and you can get them at wal-mart all the time.
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1987 Black 305 TPI 5spd IROC, seems to be fully loaded, but can't find RPO codes.

AIM: IROC 5spd

[This message has been edited by camaro6spd (edited October 01, 2001).]

 

The 350 takes rapidfire 2,not sure about the 305 though!

 

I agree, skip the gimmicks. BUT... I had a problem with plug fouling (fixed now) until I put in Bosch Platinums. Can't seem to foul them bad boys!
If your car is running good, stick in any ol' name brand.

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88 IROC with cobbled together (not by me)drivetrain, 86 (?) TPI unit on an '83 305,CE subframe connectors, Edelbrock strut tower brace, polygraphite bushings all around...it handles like a dream, but man is it hard to push!!

 

Well, I did notice a huge difference with the bosch plus 4 plugs in my '96 Impala SS.
This could of been that they seriously needed to be changed and It was running like crap but didn't noticed or they might have added somethin' to it. Also gained a couple more mpg. They used to cost 9.99/each.
This is just my experience with these, but I will use them again.

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My Website
92 RS, 350, Street & Performance MPFI, TFS heads, Stock crank and rods, Fordged flat tops,
Crane Rollers,
MSD Digital 6 Plus, 22lb injectors,
ZZ3 cam, Edelbrock Headers 1 5/8, 3" Exhaust,
Hi Flow 3" Cat, stock T-5,
stock rear 3.08, koni yellow adjustable front, twin turbo glass hood, T-tops, Auto Meter Ultra Lite Series 2 5/8 gauges, Teal Green
Est. 365Hp 420+Lbs.

 

AC R45TS. Spend any extra cash on a good coil, cap, rotor and wires.

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91 RS 5.0 TBI....Edel. TES headers .. 3" exhaust ...Dynomax muffler...5spd... 3.08...underdrive pulleys...cold air K&N flat bottom breather...strut tower brace...6-point rollbar...sub-frame connectors...Koni shocks and struts...16" Black GTA wheels...Autometer guages...custom chip...Grant steering wheel...a/c delete...smog delete...rear seat delete...ultimate TBI mods...afpr...36mm front and 25mm rear swaybars with poly bushings...

 

my friend took his 90 lumina to some wacka$$ garage here in clemson, sc, and they kept insisting his car required $8.00 rapidfire plugs.. not the 'cheap' delco's we had bought and taken to them to have put in.. plugs are plugs, maby on exotics(F1 engines and the like, the real exotics), they use some special plugs, but till you got one of them in your car, i think some $1.29 delco's will do fine

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83 Z28--not a pretty site, sold thank goodness

74 Z28-- 383/400, green on black. pretty clean. FOR SALE!!!

"I wish I was a messenger and all the news was good..I wish I was the full moon shining off a Camaro's hood"

 

I bought split fires, guess what. they didn't even fire.

when back to trusty delco and will never use anything else.


------------------
late model 91 rs, fully loaded, auto, t-tops, red leather, paint- gm red and yellow blend (light red), custom painted 16" Camaro rims
305 tbi flat base 14"x3" with K&N, hypertech chip, accel super stock plug wires, only use full synthetic oil and delco filter, 2 1/2" cat delete pipe, Edelbrock 3" cat-back
MTX sub and amp, Bose all around
vic_v8@yahoo.com
street kills: New v-6 stang, 96 v6 camaro, totally killed '86 SC Camaro (305), 91 z 28 with 305
15.854@87.57 (I think I could have it 15.5 with good tires and two more runs)
next month: rest of ultimate tbi

 

The Bosch Platinums have come down to earth, price-wise, so give them a try. I did, and they are are terrific plug. The engine simply runs smoother AND they will hold their gap properly for a longer period than a stock AC.

 

AUTOLITES ONLY

 

who makes autolites? Isn't that a ford assoated company like delco with Chevy.

 

Allied-Signal makes Autolite, and Fram too.

The Bosch Platinums at Advance are $2.19 with a lifetime warranty, if they ever foul, we replace them, lol..

 

ok about the cap coil and wires, since everyone sais they is better what kind ov cap coil and wires do i want. eh? im confused....and deliriouse, bttp- whats the best shxt, whats the power gain whats the whole deal here, someone?

 

If you are just turning 5000 to 5500 rpm then there is absolutely NO reason to use anything other than you stock GM HEI distributor, cap, rotor and coil. Get some good quality 8mm plug wires, though. GM makes good ones, as do Accell and MSD.

 

I use NGK 4s, but can't remember the specific number. They're a little shorter than the Delcos and give me a bit more header clearance. Also, I've heard of a lot of people having problems with platinum tipped plugs when using nitrous. With no changes other than switching from a regular spark plug to a platinum tipped plug, they were having all sorts of problems. Switching back to AC Delco, Autolite, or NGK solved the problems of plugs pretty much getting destroyed.

 

Platinum plugs are normally hotter plugs, and therefore decent in a stock motor to prevent fouling around town, but not so good in a nitrous, blower or turbo setup, or even sometimes in engines with higher octane requirements. I use ACR45TS with no problems. I noticed my car had a much greater tendency to ping with platinums.

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1990 IROC 350
Mods: Too busy trying to make it run right to mod it.
Airfoil, Dynomax cat-back, MSD coil, 180 t-stat, Bald Eagle tires,
Hypertech fan switch, Accel 23# injectors, Holley module, ported plenum,
Ported Daytona Yellow stock base, Moroso valve covers, other stuff,
Streetdampr, Ruger P95DC, hot wife, new oil filter, !cats, !TBC, !AIR.
18.0 @ 85MPH since I'm one big-a$$ MF
"It's better to have and not need than to need and not have."

 

it never ceases to amaze how the electrode designs get people buying.
if you think about how splitfire used to advertise that the flame kernel could travel up through the split (i wont even get into the multiple firing paths bulS**t) and therefore deliver a faster burn you begin to see why people might like the +4s.
but then when you take a closer look you realize that the 4 electrodes actually shroud the chamber from the flame front more than even a traditional design does you begin to smell what Bocsh is cookin.
if you really want exotic plugs go for a set that they use in the F1 cars (methanol powered) with NO electrode save the ring where normal ones are attached (yes the threads at the end of the plug are the ground electrode). now those plugs produce minimum kernel restriction and plus you never need to index them. of course the bad part is that the gap is like a quarter inch so I think you would need around 100,000 volts or so to fire them consistently at the 18000 rpms those guys run.
laterz

oh yea I run acdelco 45ts

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88 WS6 T/A 305 TPI--
K&N,Air foil,hypertech chip, thermostat+fanswitch
free mods, dynomax catback, urethane motor+trans mounts, PST front end poly stuff, Earl's hyperflex brake lines
SSM SFCs, Bilsteins
very trick homemade ramair, Accel 300+ ignition system. Ported plenum, intake and heads with 1.94I valves.
Planning: Heddman 1-5/8 longtubes, NOS 150 plate, replace the "peanut"! and Eibach Sportlines.
check it out at:
http://www.geocities.com/transam617