Champion Spark plugs for 71 455

Whats the Champion part number so I can get them. I recall people recommending over the AC. For the street with Dave's HEI and around 400hp.

 

HTH

http://www.championsparkplugs.com/results_app.asp?AAIA=1379774

 

I would'nt let champion plugs ride in my trunk. Jim Burek

 

I agree with Jim Burek.

 

Hs anyone ever tried splitfire plugs. or the bosch pltinum fours there both very expensive, will

 

Larry,

Not really a bad experience, but I have always run AC spark plugs in all my GM vehicles and never had a problem. I guess my main experience with this was when I worked in a Buick dealership, customer's would bring their vehicles in complaining of poor performance and misfire. Usually they had just came from a "Tune-up" shop and had Champion, Bosch or some other "cheap" brand plugs. Using a sun scope, I could prove the before and after firing pattern of the non OEM plugs. We could not garantee the engine performance unless we installed AC plugs first. We even told them if they weren't satisfied after the plug change, we could refund their money. We never had to give a refund and customer's were happy. Now this was on normal passenger cars and not race applications, so there may be other plugs that will work for some. I simply choose not to run Champion in a GM engine. I do have them in my lawnmower, but that is because it's what they came with when new. I beleive in using what the factory recommends, especially for automotive applications. Just my opinion though.

 

I wouldn't even use a champion plug in a lawn mower. In fact I'd replace it with something of better quality before putting it in service. Bosch platnium plugs are best for the guys and gals who dont do tune ups frequently (average life of about 60 K). Spit fires and bosch "4's", well dont throw good money at bad.
Im not saying they dont work, they are a avenue to get the last and I mean last bit of power from youre ignition system. Save youre money and get a MSD 6AL or other CDI ignition system. One tune up with 8 + $ plugs and youre almost there. That is where major gains in power are found. If you feel compelled to index youre plugs one afternoon (all afternoon) thats fine too. You may get a tenth, maybe. Think about cleaning a bosch 4 with a file or even a spit fire as I call them. If you have a glass bead cabinet and are that frugal to reuse youre 8$ plugs then buy a mopar ou:

You now wonder what I use well :

Autolite when aval. if not AC Delco
All foreign cars and engines get NGK's
Mighty Auto Parts are Autolites for those who use them

 

Ihave on several occasions seen the split fire plugs loose the ground electrode, one guy I know with a corvette lost a motor because of split fire plugs breaking apart.
Years ago , when I was a youngster and we would do tune-ups, I knoticed alot of cracked and broken champion plugs coming out of cars.
Then one day I droped a champion on the floor and the dang thing shattered , pieces flying everywhere, I dropped a couple more old ones just to see, they all broke into pieces. Then I took some old ac's and dropped them to see what would happen, They bounced off the floor and as long as they didi not land on the tip and close the electrode, they appeared to be fine. Then I took the ac's and threw them on the ground, I really had to throw them hard to crack them.
Used this test for years on old plugs to show people why I don't like champion plugs.
Jim Burek

 

Larry, have you tried NGK's? I think the UR-5's have the projected nose like you have now. You might take a look. I know they offer a specific projected plug too (I have them in my stage 2, from memory BP6ES?), but not sure if they have it in a tapered seat.

Smokey Yunick wasn't very nice to Champion in his book.

 

Your very welcome Larry. I seem to remember trying some Autolites and noticing the NGK's protruded more. This is all from memory though ,and the garage is about 200 mi away or I'd go look and take some pictures.

 

Wow, that's quite a website!!!

I went there, and tried R45TS, and it crossed over to the following "traditional" plugs (ie, not the $12 iridium ones):

Brand Stock # Part # Price
Autolite 26 26 $2.24
Champion 25 RV17YC $2.24
Denso 5025 T16PR-U $2.24
NGK V-power 6630 UR4 $2.24

All have .460" reach. I think I'd go for the NGK, they make good plugs, and for the money I don't think you can beat them.

(edit - trying to get the above info spaced into columns...)

 

Once again, WOW! That's a great website, tons of info there!

All of the above plugs I found earlier are "projected tip" plugs, except the Autolite calls itself a "power tip", which looks like the others.

BTW, doing a search based on 14mm threads, 5/8 hex, tapered seat, resistor, .460 reach plugs, you get a load of options available, 28 alone in NGK brand. Options range from .039 to .078 gap, conventional to iridium construction.

Wow!:eek2:

 

I thought you could get AC R45LTS plugs, with the L standing for Long. They extended into the cylinder a little farther than a regular plug.

 

Be careful, there are two different measurements for getting the tip into the cylinder. (learned this at www.sparkplugs.com, now I'm an expert) :Smarty:

First, there's "reach", which is the distance from the shoulder of the plug to the base of the ground electrode, or simply put it's the length of the threaded part. Then, there's the "tip length", which is how far the center sticks out of the threaded body of the plug. Extended tip plugs stick out nicely, non-extended plugs often have their center electrode flush with the threaded body.

Apparently the "extended tip" plugs are best, how long a "reach" is best? They list .460" for Buicks, would a plug that went farther into the chamber get closer to the center, or would the piston hit it, or is there something else? Just curious...