Changing out the plugs in my mild 350 SBC from Autolites to AC Delco R45TS plugs. I have noticed the back cylinders are a little black so trying a hotter plug. First question is do you guys think this is okay. Second, what would be a good gap spec for these new plugs? Currently they are set at 45, but want to make sure they are correct before I install.
That's just a stock HEI I would run about 45 for the gap. I now I will get some kick back on this but I would run motor craft plugs. I had a SBC that would fail the plugs I switch to the ford plugs after reading it in a old hotrod mag never had it happen again.
That's just a stock HEI I would run about 45 for the gap. I now I will get some kick back on this but I would run motor craft plugs. I had a SBC that would fail the plugs I switch to the ford plugs after reading it in a old hotrod mag never had it happen again.
Thanks speed, I realized it was infact an HEI after I posted the pics even though I said it was not previously. I am officially an idiot. Sorry for the confussion guys. Thanks for putting up with my brain fart.
Well I got the plugs in and she fired right up. Actually sounded like it was running better, but noticed more smoke than usual. When I took the old plugs out I noticed most of the plugs were pretty black. Also, when I took out the plug on cylinder #4 coolant poured out of the block. I have done more than a few tune up jobs on various cars and have never seen this. Anyway, back to the smoke. Usually, I only see smoke on the right side after the car sits for a while (burning off oil in the valve guides). However, this time I noticed a little white smoke coming from both sides (equally) and then black when I ran up the rpms? While I have my own theories, I think I need to ask the experts as I am by no means a mechanic...just really good at taking things apart and putting them back together with parts left over...LOL.
OK....the pic is of the Famed GM HEI Distributor.....looks like with a set of red 8mm silicon wires.
A slight black sooty appearance is normal idling around with a little warm cam in the engine.....even a fairly radical cam will 'load up' the plugs, if you don't blip the throttle occassionally to keep it from loading up on raw gas. On the HEI with r45tsx's, you'll run .045 on the gap.
The only way to tell is to read the plugs.......find you a long desolate piece of road or you can do it in your driveway if your really skilled and deaf.....as I am the latter........
Go to any plug site or engine building site.....I believe they've got the info there on reading plugs.........more or less you spin your engine over at high rpm and stop it as fast as you can......it can tell you a lot if you know what your looking for.
Your plugs should be a brownish gray. On a stock motor with duals and all the mess.....you'll get condensation out the tailpipes in the form of a little water vapor and a slight dripping. ANY noticable water in the combustian chamber is a full fledged danger signal!!!!!!! Hydrostatic lock can bend rods and break cranks!!!!!! (You can't compress water!) This is usually caused by a leaking head gasket, a cylinder bored to thin and you've got a split in the bore. crack in the head.......and also let me add.....water does't lube worth a crap unless your sanding or adding some water to the water soluble oil in Sunnen CK-10!!!!!!! Water in your oil is also a danger signal!
White smoke on startup isn't a sure fire signal of water in the chamber......need to run a pressure check on your cylinders and water jacket. A puff of black smoke on startup is oil running past your valve stem seals. NOW, after the engines running.....you got white smoke.....have a good mechanic check it out for you.....unless you got the knowhow and the tools........
Sparkplug hole I'll assume????????? Or out of the radiator???????????????
Bust out the cryptonite there.......and get the puppy to a mechanic.......something is terribly wrong.....pulling plugs........just let me say this..........
The ONLY times you should see coolant is changing your radiator cap, changing your thermostat, or changing your hoses.......PERIOD! Unless your checking your coolant level.......
Thanks for the information screamin. I agree there has to be something wrong so I am not going to run until I can get a head pulled off to check. I have called my chief mechanic and we are going to look into ASAP. I think this occation may call for some upgrades. Since I have to at lease pull a head...why not replace a few things. Maybe a top end kit is in order. Stay tuned guys, I may have some entine parts for sale soon...LOL.
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