spark plug question

-
trudysduster

trudysduster

FABO Gold Member
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2009
Messages
5,050
Reaction score
237
Location
Corinth, Ky.
replacing the plugs when the heads go back on. Why are there 2 different MM thread applications for the 360 engine. I have been running Champion RF14YC plugs in here and they are 18MM thread. a lot of the plugs I have found for the 1979 360 engine is showing 14 MM thread. The reach on the Champion plugs show .44 in. By the way, I am having a hard time finding the Champion plugs in a parts house is why I am asking. Does the heads change after a certain year. What plugs are you guys running in a 360 that are 18 MM. Thanks again.
 
trudysduster said:
replacing the plugs when the heads go back on. Why are there 2 different MM thread applications for the 360 engine. I have been running Champion RF14YC plugs in here and they are 18MM thread. a lot of the plugs I have found for the 1979 360 engine is showing 14 MM thread. The reach on the Champion plugs show .44 in. By the way, I am having a hard time finding the Champion plugs in a parts house is why I am asking. Does the heads change after a certain year. What plugs are you guys running in a 360 that are 18 MM. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

I have only seen the F series plugs in Fords, but I'm sure if I looked it up they are other applications.

I can't believe you need a RC14YC Champion, unless it is very low compression. The RC12YC is a better start and most likely that would be the plug that works. If the 12's look at bit hot, use the RC9YC.

All of those plugs can be ordered from Jegs, or I buy them from ERC racing fuels in California.
 
I don't know that I need a RF14YC. But that is what was in the engine when I got it and it seems to run ok. It is a low compression engine but I am putting a XE268 cam in it along with 2.02/1.60 valves in the heads. That is what I need to know. What plugs should I be using with the upgrades.
 
trudysduster said:
I don't know that I need a RF14YC. But that is what was in the engine when I got it and it seems to run ok. It is a low compression engine but I am putting a XE268 cam in it along with 2.02/1.60 valves in the heads. That is what I need to know. What plugs should I be using with the upgrades.
Click to expand...


WTH???? I have never seen a SBM head that took that plug.

Now I need to get the book out and look at what it calls for. The OE plug is 14 mm and that plug is 18 mm. That would be the proverbial ten ponds of poo in a five pound bag.
 
yellow rose said:
I have only seen the F series plugs in Fords, but I'm sure if I looked it up they are other applications.

I can't believe you need a RC14YC Champion, unless it is very low compression. The RC12YC is a better start and most likely that would be the plug that works. If the 12's look at bit hot, use the RC9YC.

All of those plugs can be ordered from Jegs, or I buy them from ERC racing fuels in California.
Click to expand...

I have had good luck with RC11YC4's. They work great with the .045 gap I use.
 
they were used on some commercial engines like air compressors, wood shredders, industrial stuff ,seen it back in the 60.70's and are sill being used today. I've seen them on 273/318 on boats ect.
 
I found some RF14YC plugs on ebay. Don't know if that is too hot of a plug or not. don't know how to tell. plug looked good when it came out. From what I have read I can go to a RF9Y plug if it is.
 
teringer said:
they were used on some commercial engines like air compressors, wood shredders, industrial stuff ,seen it back in the 60.70's and are sill being used today. I've seen them on 273/318 on boats ect.
Click to expand...

I was going to say, "marine engine?"
 
Personally, I would not put Champions in my riding mower, I would run Autolites in a Furd but I would never own a Furd. I would get NGK, best plug on the planet and one of the few still made in USA. Some of their plugs are made in Japan but not the ones we run, the magnum # is USA. Pretty sure all the corner store guys have em, autoz, Orileys, checker what ever they call em in your area. Get the V Power ones, not platinum or iridium $5 ones, you want the standard $2.50 ones.
 
magnummopar said:
Personally, I would not put Champions in my riding mower, I would run Autolites in a Furd but I would never own a Furd. I would get NGK, best plug on the planet and one of the few still made in USA. Some of their plugs are made in Japan but not the ones we run, the magnum # is USA. Pretty sure all the corner store guys have em, autoz, Orileys, checker what ever they call em in your area. Get the V Power ones, not platinum or iridium $5 ones, you want the standard $2.50 ones.
Click to expand...

Is that the FR5-1?
 
Early 318-3 and 360-3 engines were used in motor homes and different industrial applications. As such they used the F series Champion plugs and are 18 MM.
 
SGBARRACUDA said:
Early 318-3 and 360-3 engines were used in motor homes and different industrial applications. As such they used the F series Champion plugs and are 18 MM.
Click to expand...


Seems like this popped up a few weeks ago. IIRC that was about industrial big blocks.

I'd love to see the head with an 18mm spark plug. I actually was going to take some W5 heads and weld up the plug holes, move them a bit and use 10mm plug.

And then, I realized the juice wasn't worth the squeeze and left those thoughts in my head.
 
yellow rose said:
Seems like this popped up a few weeks ago. IIRC that was about industrial big blocks.

I'd love to see the head with an 18mm spark plug. I actually was going to take some W5 heads and weld up the plug holes, move them a bit and use 10mm plug.

And then, I realized the juice wasn't worth the squeeze and left those thoughts in my head.
Click to expand...

You are right. This was talked about before. They also made 413-3 and 440-3 in the early Motor homes and industrial. I replaced a few engines in the early 68-72 Winnebago's that ran the 318-3 or 413-3 engines.
 
Stock 340's came with RN9YC

318's usually came with RN12YC or RN14YC


However the 3.3L/3.8L minivan engine had platnum plugs from 1996 -2000 that will work in the small block and run great. I've seen a set of those with 200,000 miles on them....
 
Roy, you get the prize. This engine originally came out of a 1979 motor home. Yellow Rose, I will post some pics of the heads when they come back from the shop next week.
 
magnummopar said:
Personally, I would not put Champions in my riding mower, I would run Autolites in a Furd but I would never own a Furd. I would get NGK, best plug on the planet and one of the few still made in USA. Some of their plugs are made in Japan but not the ones we run, the magnum # is USA. Pretty sure all the corner store guys have em, autoz, Orileys, checker what ever they call em in your area. Get the V Power ones, not platinum or iridium $5 ones, you want the standard $2.50 ones.
Click to expand...

Good luck finding the ngk if youi thought champs were tough.Everybody has an opinion on plugs/oil/filters but in the end they all do the same thing and if you can show a power diff. between them (same heat range) prove it.
 
joec said:
Good luck finding the ngk if youi thought champs were tough.Everybody has an opinion on plugs/oil/filters but in the end they all do the same thing and if you can show a power diff. between them (same heat range) prove it.
Click to expand...

????? I have a case of them on a shelf, then I Googled NGK. First 2 pages list Summit, Jegs, Amazon, AutoZone,Rock Auto, WalMart, Baxters, NGKWholesale.com, O Reillys, NAPA, hell it would be easier to list who doesnt have them.
My "proof" is 30+ years of building high performance engines, trying different combos and seeing what works and what doesnt. Champions suck, and if a plug is 1/2 fouled then it will produce less HP than one that isnt. Next time you are at a race, walk through the pits and ask what plugs are you running....I bet 8 out of 10 say NGK. If they tell you something else, go ask the fast guys and they will tell you NGK.

Champions are made in Mexico and AutoLite are made in China. NGK are made in USA or Japan. You pick which ones are best, but the ONLY plugs I have never had a DOA with was NGK, thats my proof.
 
I'm not a Head guy, or engine builder, so I don't know anything about what you have. But it seems like you have the heads that Chrysler went to when they detuned everything and gave themselves a bad name as far as performance---Smog Heads.

It seems like, now is the perfect time to upgrade. Go for it!

I'd say change Heads, but what's in the bottom half?

What do you think Guys ? What does he need to do?
 
magnummopar said:
????? I have a case of them on a shelf, then I Googled NGK. First 2 pages list Summit, Jegs, Amazon, AutoZone,Rock Auto, WalMart, Baxters, NGKWholesale.com, O Reillys, NAPA, hell it would be easier to list who doesnt have them.
My "proof" is 30+ years of building high performance engines, trying different combos and seeing what works and what doesnt. Champions suck, and if a plug is 1/2 fouled then it will produce less HP than one that isnt. Next time you are at a race, walk through the pits and ask what plugs are you running....I bet 8 out of 10 say NGK. If they tell you something else, go ask the fast guys and they will tell you NGK.

Champions are made in Mexico and AutoLite are made in China. NGK are made in USA or Japan. You pick which ones are best, but the ONLY plugs I have never had a DOA with was NGK, thats my proof.
Click to expand...
My original post was a plug that was readily available at any parts store Adv,autozone or the local mom and pop.These plugs were last used in cars around the mid seventys.
your only proof is that for you you had no problems.Alot of others dont have problems with champ or autolite.I checked my local dist. and no body I mean nobody has the ngk in stock or in local distribution centers.If you have a case you must do only old ford stuff.Also if champ is for lawnmowers autolite is for ford then ngk must be for gm cause there making some for ac delco.As to where they are made at least champ and autolite are American companys and still produce some plugs here.My post to the op was they are readily available nothing else.Also if you had a problem with fouling plugs could it be that they were wrong heat range or carb problem.How many nascar teams use ngk?Alot of autolite are also made in Mexico.As i walk through the pits most use Autolite and ngk and champ.
To the original poster if the champs ran good then the Autolite should work good.And no he doesnt have to change heads or brands of cams or oils or filters for it to run good. 318willrun and others get it, some dont.Sorry for the long rant, it just seems everyone is trying to prove everyone else wrong and it aint necessarily so.Just trying to help as economically as possible.
 
well here is what I know. I have had this car for about 4 years now. I have ran these Champion plugs the whole time. I have had no problems. When I pulled them they looked good. My only thing is with putting in this XE268 cam and have the heads rebuilt with the 2.02/1.60 valves, will the same plug work for me. No one has answered that question yet. as far as the bottom end goes, it is stock just like it came from the factory. This car is for show only. It does not need to run in the 10's or 11's like some on here. That is not its purpose. This motor was put in this car for the sole purpose to make it drivable to car shows. I had at the time 2 -340 engines I could have built into whatever I wanted but my son just wanted to be able to drive the car at the time. This engine was complete and running. So I guess since no one can answer the question, I will keep these, try them and if they are not right, I will experiment with other plugs.
 
trudysduster said:
well here is what I know. I have had this car for about 4 years now. I have ran these Champion plugs the whole time. I have had no problems. When I pulled them they looked good. My only thing is with putting in this XE268 cam and have the heads rebuilt with the 2.02/1.60 valves, will the same plug work for me. No one has answered that question yet. as far as the bottom end goes, it is stock just like it came from the factory. This car is for show only. It does not need to run in the 10's or 11's like some on here. That is not its purpose. This motor was put in this car for the sole purpose to make it drivable to car shows. I had at the time 2 -340 engines I could have built into whatever I wanted but my son just wanted to be able to drive the car at the time. This engine was complete and running. So I guess since no one can answer the question, I will keep these, try them and if they are not right, I will experiment with other plugs.
Click to expand...


The reason I didn't say more is that in well over 30 years I have never seen either big block or small block heads that use that style plug.

Personally, I would not have used that head, just because of that plug. I just hate 18mm plugs.

Now that I have that off my chest, you have what you have, and it is working. The 14 heat range seems a BIT hot, but I would want to see pics of a couple of plugs before I said for sure. There are very few choices when it comes to the F series plug. If you think about it, the bigge the shell, the harder it is to fit it in the chamber, get coolant around it and not have the seat get into the plugs threads.

There are no Champion race plugs in the F series. There are very few non race plugs in that series either. You can get the RF11YC which is one range colder than you have, or the RF9YC which is two ranges Coker than what you have.

Your choices are very limited.

Hope this helps.
 
To answer your question yes they will work fine for you. You are not changing compression just the cam and you will probably will have less cyl pressure if you are going from a stock cam.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top