'71 440 335hp plug recommendations

[Rubatoguy]

Without wanting to bring up a dreaded sparkplug discussion, I was curious as to people's favorite plug to use on a stock 440 motor? Do you stick with the stock heat range or have you found better plugs to use?

thank you,
Todd

 

[CBODY67]

Stock heat range is great. Brand? Your choice of name brands and type.

When Champion was Champion, I used J-12Y to J-14Ys. All burned light tan on the ceramic. None carboned-up or anything else. Just normal all the time, even with 2.5* more base timing.

After I'd use them in the Chrysler 383s, I'd save them "for later", which ended up being in our 5 horsepower Brigs & Stratton lawn mower engine.

After Champions, I "graduated" to Motorcrafts and finally to NGKs. V-Power and then to Iridiums.

Just my experiences,
CBODY67

 

[cbarge]

With todays corn whiskey being sold at the pumps, I had good luck with AC Delco R43s in my 440's. A colder plug compared to J11Y or 12 or 14Y
Since todays gas runs leaner and hotter a colder plug may work better.
Along with a rejetted carburetor, hotter coil, recurved distributor with more initial advance, and you can gap the plugs at 37 or 40 thou for a better burn.
Nothing crazy just good fine tuning on a stock motor will make it run happier.
Engine vacuum should be between 17 and 20 inches at idle.
Just my experience, but your results may vary.
Hope this helps.

 

[darth_linux]

Where does one get various jets for a Stromberg WWC? I feel like at this point I’m stuck with what I have. I run ethanol-free clear gas btw, 91 octane, and AC R43S.

With today’s corn whiskey being sold at the pumps, I had good luck with AC Delco R43s in my 440's. A colder plug compared to J11Y or 12 or 14Y
Since todays gas runs leaner and hotter a colder plug may work better.
Along with a rejetted carburetor, hotter coil, recurved distributor with more initial advance, and you can gap the plugs at 37 or 40 thou for a better burn.
Nothing crazy just good fine tuning on a stock motor will make it run happier.
Engine vacuum should be between 17 and 20 inches at idle.
Just my experience, but your results may vary.
Hope this helps.

 

[CBODY67]

NS1 Not Serviced any more by Chrysler
UNLESS . . . you drill the existing jets to enlarge them
OR you re-drill the holes they screw into to match the common Holley 4bbl jets.

Why do you suspect you might need something different than OEM stock sizes? Just curious.

CBODY67

 

[cbarge]

Where does one get various jets for a Stromberg WWC? I feel like at this point I’m stuck with what I have. I run ethanol-free clear gas btw, 91 octane, and AC R43S.

Good question but as Cbody67 says you can modify yours.
My 67 Monaco has the original Carter AFB and my 68 Newport is running an Eddy 1406. Both of mine can use a tuner kit for the Eddy.
Up here in Canuckville we no longer have the luxury of ethanol free gas.
When driving south of the border I do take advantage of real gas whenever its available.

 

[darth_linux]

NS1 Not Serviced any more by Chrysler
UNLESS . . . you drill the existing jets to enlarge them
OR you re-drill the holes they screw into to match the common Holley 4bbl jets.

Why do you suspect you might need something different than OEM stock sizes? Just curious.

CBODY67

Just cbarges comments about "Along with a rejetted carburetor" made me think about the question, "do the stock jets that worked with the gasoline of 1966 still meet the needs of todays fuel?"

 

[cbarge]

Just cbarges comments about "Along with a rejetted carburetor" made me think about the question, "do the stock jets that worked with the gasoline of 1966 still meet the needs of todays fuel?"

I was getting a lean condition until I put bigger jets in and different metering rods.
Also had to use the highest setting on the accelerator pump for a better shot of fuel. Was getting a flat spot leaving the traffic lights.
The majority of pumps have 91 octane with the odd 93 or 94 but it is scarce.
Brand means nothing..I seen the same truck tanker fill a shell station and go across the street to fill an Esso.

 

[Big_John]

Without wanting to bring up a dreaded sparkplug discussion, I was curious as to people's favorite plug to use on a stock 440 motor? Do you stick with the stock heat range or have you found better plugs to use?

thank you,
Todd

Since this thread is quickly going off the rails, I'll give you my opinion.

Ask 10 guys and you'll get 10 different answers. Personally, I don't think there's much difference between brands, especially when used in something that gets driven on a limited basis.

That said, I use Autolite 85 spark plugs. Nothing fancy, just regular copper plugs in the stock heat range. They seem to work just fine for me.

What you may want to do is run whatever plug you decide on and look at them and decide if you want to change the heat range. I kind of doubt you will need to change though.

 

[darth_linux]

NS1 Not Serviced any more by Chrysler
UNLESS . . . you drill the existing jets to enlarge them
OR you re-drill the holes they screw into to match the common Holley 4bbl jets.

Why do you suspect you might need something different than OEM stock sizes? Just curious.

CBODY67

Found jets for the WWC WW Jets - Carburetor Parts & Kits for Carter, Ford Motorcraft, Holley & Rochester Carburetors

 

[cbarge]

Since this thread is quickly going off the rails, I'll give you my opinion.

Ask 10 guys and you'll get 10 different answers. Personally, I don't think there's much difference between brands, especially when used in something that gets driven on a limited basis.

That said, I use Autolite 85 spark plugs. Nothing fancy, just regular copper plugs in the stock heat range. They seem to work just fine for me.

What you may want to do is run whatever plug you decide on and look at them and decide if you want to change the heat range. I kind of doubt you will need to change though.

I tend to drive my C's more often than most in city traffic and on long trips doing 70.
That includes being stuck in backed up traffic through construction areas On interstate highways
With 3 C's I drive each one daily for a week and switch. Lol.
I agree the brand of plugs can be a personal preference.
How many miles on the engine ( engine wear) condtion of the cooling system, updated igniton systems and/or carburetors can help determine what heat range work best for optimum efficiency.
A small detail where you can benefit yet not really necessary.
Unlike todays modern vehicles, You are the computer to read the plugs and determine heat range, air fuel ratio, and ignition timing., etc. Lol!

 

[Jeremiah]

I have run NGK XR5 / pn 3332 in several 350hp 440 engines.

 

[Rubatoguy]

Looks like my car currently has Champion CPN14 plugs. I want to do a compression check on the engine, so I will have a better look when I take them out.

 

[CBODY67]

DO please advise as the "N" Champion plugs are the long-reach plugs for a LA motor, not a B/RB motor, unless it has some different heads than normal.

 

[Rubatoguy]

I'm going by the receipt in the paperwork, I have not eyeballed the plugs in the engine yet. Could be an interesting weekend. I will post what I find.