I spoke with a good friend who owns his own mechanics shop in La Grange Park, IL ( Chevy8588 ). He uses the Bosch Iridiums.

But what spark plugs do you use?

I was wondering if these Bosch Platinums+4 are any good.

 

I just noticed there where 23 members who viewed this thread and none posted which plugs they used. Hmm.

 

For header clearance I use Accel Shorties. I don't recall plug #
but it's a retro to R45TS.
When we go Bigblock, I'll go back to AC Delco

 

AC DELCO here

 

Arent those Accel plugs over $20?

 

AC Delco shorties here, only ones that'll fit reasonably well with the headers I'm running.

 

I don't recall how much they were, I'm thinking around $20-25.

I didn't know Delco made Shorties!! DOH!!

 

Stay away from all the "gimmick" plugs like the +4. I'd include in this category basically ANY plug that costs more and tries to tell you it's going to actually have some kind of effect on the car's operation; E3, SplitFire, etc.

Yerbasic AC Delco works fine. Any of the OEM-grade mfrs direct replacements are also OK; Champion, Motorcraft, Denso, NGK, Bosch (just the regular ones).

Accel plugs are actually Denso, except with that STOOOOOOOOOPID guaranteed-failure screw-on end instead of being permanently installed, so that it falls off on a regular basis. Not sure why they specify that their plugs be deliberately modified to be unreliable; but W/E, all I know is what comes out of the box.

 

Standard AC Delco's here.

 

Sounds good guys. SofaKingdom, I'm getting hard starts, that's why I asked about the +4 plug. I was thinking the 4 sparks where better than 1 lone spark in my cylinders. So what's the difference between a +4 and a Delco? I'm looking more for a quicker start up, not performance.

 

I run AC Delco's also. Since I have Vortec I have to use a deeper plug, but it's just R45LTS6 plugs. Basically a deeper R45TS.

 

my car has a set of Delco R-43s in it.
no matter how many electrodes a spark plug has, there will only be 1 spark 1 time. the spark will jump from the coolest spot or tightest gap.
if you have an MSD unit, then you'll have more than 1 spark. again each spark will be from the coolest spot or tightest gap.

when i repaired cars for a living and a customer brought in a car with a problem and they mentioned that they had some of those "gimmick" plugs, a set of factory replacements was the very first thing on the list.
if they refused to let me replace the plugs, they could take the car down the road because i was done with it.

with hard starts, the 2 main things are the wrong amount of fuel to air or weak spark.
intake valve deposits can also cause hard cold starts by absorbing the fuel before it gets into the cylinders.


sofa, the fix i use for the plugs with the screw on ends is to slightly crush the top end of it so it locks on.
right now the only plug i can think of thats actually better than a factory plug is the replacements from Champion for the ford 5.4 triton.
they are stronger than the factory plugs and much less likely to snap off in the head.

 

I know its off topic but this is my thread. I know that there is no deposits in my intake. So my next test would be to checkout the CS injector. Im gonna pull it out a bit soon and crank the Camaro. I wanna see if there is fuel being squirted out on start up. The ignition system is all new (2 years old) but bone stock. Camaro turns on quick with starting fluid. Any advice DENN_SHAH since I provided this info?

 

its your thread, so i guess you can change the topic if you want

its not the deposits in the intake that absorbs the fuel, its the deposits on the back side of the intake valves.
way back when, it seemed like almost every port fuel motor had heavy deposits. back then we didn't have much in the way of chemicals to dissolve the deposits that didn't end up killing the injectors, so pulling the heads was too common.
i had some that were caked up so bad, it caused poor performance from lack of air getting into the cylinders. a few of them had less than 40K.
with the changes to motor oil and the additives in gasoline now, its not nearly as bad of a problem as it used to be, but it can still happen.

i had forgotten your motor has a cold start valve, its a good place to start.
i always hated pulling the valve because the line was such a pain to get back on. so before pulling it out, i would check for both power and ground when cranking with the motor cold.
it should have power at the CSV when cranking hot or cold. IIRC, the power comes from the crank fuse in the fuse box and is hot only when cranking.
the cold start switch/timer controls the ground side.
with the motor above a certain temp, the cold start switch should be open. i forget at what temp the switch opens at, i want to say 95F, but i could very easily be wrong.the switch is on the motor, i believe near the T-stat.
once you know the valve is getting good power and ground and its still has a hard start, its time to pull the valve.
i don't recall ever finding just a bad cold start valve.
finding both a bad cold start valve and switch was pretty common here.
my guess is the switch would go out sometime during late spring or early summer when the CS system wasn't needed and the valve would end up being stuck closed from not being operated for a few months.

didn't you mention you had gotten into chip burning?
if so, with the bosch 3 injectors you have and a bin from an 88 or 89 thirdgen you can do away with the CS system.

 

You still only get 1 lone spark. The 4 ground electrodes are there to gives options for the path of least resistance.

 

okay. Thanks for the info man. So then I can go with that split fire. My concern about my spark plugs is that I have the crappy Autolite. I want to upgrade just for the more reliable type. Thanks guys for the advice, comments, and help.

 

Good info! I didn't really get into chip burning but I do have a Moates G1 adapter along with a 87 IROC bin burnt into a EPROM. So with your recommendation of a 88-89 bin, is the only difference is the deletion of the CS valve? So everything should be the same then such as gear ratio. What about the MAF system? I have a MAF. Aren't the years after 87 speed density?

 

To be honest, I've had great results with autolite double platinums for years. My car has bosch in it right now but I wouldn't hesitate with autolites. Ac delcos are the first choice though in this car for me.

 

+1 on the shorties

 

split fires are horrible. a few of my friends tried them years ago.
one had a second gen camaro with a nicely built 383. he put them in looking to try and trim a tenth or 2 off his quarter mile times. the third time he tried to drive the car, it wouldn't start. we put the old Delco plugs back in and it fired right off.
another friend tried them in his dirt bike on race night at the local track.
he didn't get more than 2~3 laps off each of the split fire plugs. he finished the night using an old A/C Delco i had taken out of my bike that had been laying in the trunk of my car for a few months.
Autolite isn't a bad plug, for a ford. i would stay with them long before i would put a split fire in.

when i got my 92 L98, it had ~92K on it.
when i put it in, i did a complete tune-up. cap, rotor, wires, plugs, pickup coil, ignition coil, and ignition module. later i did the cap, rotor, and plugs.
a year or 2 later a couple of the wires got loose and were damaged on the manifolds, so i went a head and did another tune-up, which was mostly complete but didn't include the pickup coil.
i now have over 300K on the motor.
all ignition parts i use on my car are A/C Delco.
over 200K on 3 sets of plugs tells me they are a great spark plug.

speed density started in 1990.
im not sure what year GM added VATS, i know the 89 had it and 88 may have had it too. so it needs to be turned off if its in the chip. just uncheck the box for VATS and for code 46.
as for the rear gear, i don't know what its called in the MAF bins.
but im sure it can also be easily changed if need be.

 

Well then, Sounds like AC Delco may be a better choice. My current ignition system is all of the cheap brand. Im considering on buying a Hypertech Cap and coil, or a Accel coil, or a Accel cap in coil. Im just undecided at this point about what ignition parts to get. All I want to do is get a faster turn on and a hotter spark without breaking the bank.

 

I have that Accel Supercoil... I hate it with a passion. It's such a PITA to deal with. I cant really get the plug boots off with it on, and it's a big pain in the *** to get it wired up. I much prefer a normal style OEM coil/cap setup.

It's working okay though. Functionally it's fine, it's just a PITA to work with.

The Accel ignition modules I had fried themselves within months. Got a Borg Warner module and it's been fine for a long time now. I wouldnt spend another dime on Accel ignition parts. Not sure I'd spend it on MSD either. I've just had too much bad luck with aftermarket ignition stuff.

 

Wow! This is great! I completely threw this thread off topic!

 

I need to correct my earlier post. I don't use AC Delco Shorties, they are Acell Shorties. Delco doens't make them.

Also, while I've hear bad things about the split-fire plugs, I"ve heard nothig but good things about the Rapid-Fire plugs...any one have any comments on those?

 

Wow!!! I just noticed that u r in the United Kingdom!!! Right here in California (USA), at this very moment is Monday, September 5th, 2:20 AM. What time and day is it over there in the UK?

 

LOL It's monday the 5th at 10:22am... Make it about an 8 hour time difference.

 

Damn! 8 hour difference. Well then Ozz1967, I'm gonna go to sleep now. U have urself a good day. I'm gonna have my self a good night,,, or shall I say a very early Monday morning good morning sleep. Any how, ill be seeing you later on today. Peace

 

ACDelco's on all my cars so far and no problems.

Switching to NGK with my new 355, though.

 

auotlight cheapos they work great and I change them before its needed some mag did a thing along time ago and said they made the most power

 

I have the Bosch you originally mentioned and for the past two years, I've had no problem or complaints with them. I know many preach about using original equipment AC Delco and I'll agree that it is a solid choice (they weren't available the day I had a lift for my tuneup) but unless you are heavily modified or plan to race, in my opinion, something like the E3 or a close competitor probably isn't the best way to spend money for a daily driver.

 

 

NGKs or AC Delcos for me...

 

Any copper cored plugs I can lay my hands on is what I'll use in these unless I know I'm not going to see/service the car in a long while, then I use a bosch platinum typically... unless it has a msd type ignition on it. I do use those +4 plugs... on certain ethnic motors, for a specific reason... y'all can guess which ones.

 

Getting ready to buy some new plugs and wires and found that the Accel plugs (P/N 8199) and wires (P/N 4065) have a rebate for them (http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/image...157256056_.pdf). Expires on 10 SEP 11. I'm getting both from Advance for a total of $45 after the $20 rebate. Tough economic times = any deal you can get...

 

AC Delco R45TSUnder $20
5.0 TBI

Not sure what was in there when I changed 'em (they were rusted beyond recognition) 1,500 miles on them so far and she runs great.

 

NGK G Power Platinium Model UR5GP
around 3.19 a piece

 

AC-Delco R45TS for now.

The NGK G-Power Platinum Alloy UR4GPs will go in next.

judoka_ca,
What car are you using the Model UR5GP plug in.

 

Do not get caught up in the gimmick plugs.

No gimmick plugs will give you any benefits. This goes for Bosch 4's, split fires. E3's, etc etc.

I wouldn't run a Bosch of any type on anything I own. I tried that 13-14 years ago and they fouled out before I got out of my driveway.

I run Ac delco, autolite, NGK.

When I had a 11 sec iron headed car (1988 camaro), I used AC delco R43
Same car, brodix alum heads I run autolite 3923
Vortec heads on 355 in S10 autolite 605
Twin turbo'ed 337, brodix alum heads in my dad's firebird, we ran NGK for awhile then had to go with the autolite side gapped racing plugs.

 

I use AC delco R-43_CTS. in my 86 TPI car. works great.

 

im running accels currently and I hate them

 

Old thread but I'll add my two cents. Anything "factory original" is trash. Do not put Delco plugs in your engine. I personally use Bosch plugs in all my vehicles. Don't bother with multiple electrodes. That's a gimmick.


The main factors involved here will all foul your plugs, do your valves leak oil? Is your carb properly tuned? Is your timing correct? Do your rings leak? Is your carb jetted right? Your plugs when pulled should be slightly grey in color.


What it really comes down to is personal preference. I prefer Bosch Platinum.

 

It really does come down to personal preference. I wouldn't use anything but ACDelco until I got headers and needed the Accel shorties.