Spark Plug and Exhaust Valve color

[Robert]

Swapped out headers on my 24T today and took some shots of plug color / exhaust valve color, etc.

I had been having issues with engine getting hot - - some pinging, reset timing to 12 BTDC and it helped a tad bit.

I bought this from a guy in Arizona who didn't have any info on the engine.

350 Chevy small block with dual Edlebrock carbs.

Like to get some opinions on these exhaust valve colors and spark plugs.

Spark plugs are all in proper numerical position just rotated 180 deg. to avoid shading (camera angle).

The two cylinders in the rear half of the motor on driver's side have white colored exhaust valves, while the other cylinders more tan colored valves.

Makes me wonder if the rear Edlebrock carb is jetted correctly or ?

 

[TriodeLuvr]

There are issues in your previous posts that remain unresolved, such as the overheating and total timing. Plug/valve colors are meaningless until those things are put to bed.

Jack

 

[Screaming Metal]

Hahaha, Yep Jack, trying to put the cart before the horse. Mike may need to talk to him....
Robert, I understand your concern over the shading of the plugs , and the color of the valves , but until we got the temp thing done and your timing sorted out....
Quite frankly, the color of the plugs isn't that readable, the way you think that they're readable. Yes, you can tell if its dripping with raw fuel or your pumping oil on some cylinders.
Remember in your OTHER post, we needed info? Dual carbs is a need to know thing. Just like the boiling over last week. Now its not, its just running hot. Dude, if you got 2-4bbl carbs feeding a V8, Thats 1-4bbl carb per 4 cylinders. Yes, it could be running lean, but the chances of that are slim....
We need to find your problem, the plugs look like, well, plugs. Theres a system to check for problems, and we're not keeping to that system....
I'm going to get something to eat and drink some coffee, I gotta motor thats gotta go on the dyno....

 

[Robert]

Ordered timing tape last night.

Once arrives will check timing again and post.

 

[Mike]

Quite frankly, the color of the plugs isn't that readable, the way you think that they're readable.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!

The only thing I can tell from those plugs is the motor isn't ingesting any water. Beyond that, the countless hours of idle time have rendered the plugs unreadable.

 

[Screaming Metal]

As Mike, I, Golly, Mango and a few others know, when we say 'read plugs'....we don't mean just looking at them.
To 'Read Plugs', you must make a full throttle run under full power and once you max rpm you want to read for is reached, you must kill the motor at once and stop the motor from 'coasting' to a stop. This is usually accomplished in low gear, and shutting it down and locking up the brakes. That is really the only way to get the plugs to show you what you want to know.
'Reading Plugs' is not for the weak of heart. Then you look at the plugs under the Magic Lense....hahaha....

 

[TriodeLuvr]

In all fairness to the OP, I don't think he intended to use the plugs as an indicator of WOT mixture. I think he was just hoping the color could be used to help diagnose his problem. It can't, of course, because we don't even know yet if the symptoms are real (excessive timing advance and overheating). Still, I think it's understandable that he'd be hoping for a break, that something about the plugs might be useful. It'll just take more time to ferret it all out...