Help please, plug reading wizards!
I'm trying to solve several mysteries with the engine in my truck. It's a standard bottom end .030 over slant in an 82 D150. Originally it was a hydraulic cam motor but I changed it to solid lifters. It has a OCG 2106R cam, pocket ported head, oversize valves (1.70/1.45) a Clifford 4-bbl intake, Clifford shorty headers, and an Edelbrock AVS2 500 carb. I set the carb idle mixture per the instructions but clearly something isn't right. Sadly, I am the goon that assembled this engine and it was my first motor rebuild. Surprisingly, it started right up and runs pretty well. I did have to fiddle with the carb and timing a lot but it runs well and has good power for a small motor in a heavy truck. I have about 700 miles on it so far.
That's the good news. The bad news is, I have a strong ticking noise I will address in another thread.
For today, I'm wondering WTF is going on with my plugs. I changed the oil and all the filters/fluids and wanted to check the plugs. Ick. They look a mess, and I have no idea why. It sure looks like it's running pig rich. The plugs are all heavily sooty and black. There are more issues, though. The #1 plug is an odd color - a really grey instead of the normal shiny chrome color on the metal body. The #4 and #6 plugs are horribly fouled. #4 has what looks like oil all over it, and #6 has what looks like oily buildup all over the threads. The rest of the plugs are less crappy looking, but none of them look good. #4&6 have a clear brown ring about 1/4" up into the ceramic part of the body.
For a truck that runs well, what the hell is going on? I know I need to figure out the ticking/rattling, and figure out why my plugs are a disaster. All thoughts and ideas are welcome here.
And a closeup of #4 and #6
I'm trying to solve several mysteries with the engine in my truck. It's a standard bottom end .030 over slant in an 82 D150. Originally it was a hydraulic cam motor but I changed it to solid lifters. It has a OCG 2106R cam, pocket ported head, oversize valves (1.70/1.45) a Clifford 4-bbl intake, Clifford shorty headers, and an Edelbrock AVS2 500 carb. I set the carb idle mixture per the instructions but clearly something isn't right. Sadly, I am the goon that assembled this engine and it was my first motor rebuild. Surprisingly, it started right up and runs pretty well. I did have to fiddle with the carb and timing a lot but it runs well and has good power for a small motor in a heavy truck. I have about 700 miles on it so far.
That's the good news. The bad news is, I have a strong ticking noise I will address in another thread.
For today, I'm wondering WTF is going on with my plugs. I changed the oil and all the filters/fluids and wanted to check the plugs. Ick. They look a mess, and I have no idea why. It sure looks like it's running pig rich. The plugs are all heavily sooty and black. There are more issues, though. The #1 plug is an odd color - a really grey instead of the normal shiny chrome color on the metal body. The #4 and #6 plugs are horribly fouled. #4 has what looks like oil all over it, and #6 has what looks like oily buildup all over the threads. The rest of the plugs are less crappy looking, but none of them look good. #4&6 have a clear brown ring about 1/4" up into the ceramic part of the body.
For a truck that runs well, what the hell is going on? I know I need to figure out the ticking/rattling, and figure out why my plugs are a disaster. All thoughts and ideas are welcome here.
And a closeup of #4 and #6
