Sparkplug Configuration in a 170 flat six

[TroyN]

I have heard from more than one person you are supposed to used different burning spark plugs for each cylinder on a flat head. Does anyone know if this is true? If this is true what is the configuration that is best for the engine.

[Anne F. Goodman]

Well thats the first that I have heard of that.


Mabel 1949 Champion
1957 Silverhawk
1955 Champion 4Dr.Regal
Gus 1958 Transtar
1955 President State
1957 Golden Hawk
Fresno,Ca

[wolfie]

May be,or once was,a speed trick.Like Anne I have never heard of it but I wouldnt think it would have much effect on a 85 HP Stude engine. I think the FLAPS book called for a Champion J8 in my 53.I know it was a small engine plug.Steve

[54-61-62]

quote:Originally posted by TroyN

you are supposed to used different burning spark plugs for each cylinder on a flat head.

Thats a total bunch of BS

[BobGlasscock]

OMG! I've been using 6 identical plugs for 59 years in error!

'50 Champion, 1 family owner

[N8N]

The only special instruction that I'm aware of with flatheads is that you need to use the old style, non-projected-nose spark plugs, because of the lack of space in the combustion chamber. e.g. with an OHV engine, the engine might have been spec'd to use a J8 but a logical substitution would be a J12Y. you CANNOT do this with a flathead unless you like smashing the electrodes into the top of the piston. What this means is that theoretically a flathead engine will be a little more sensitive to heat range, as that is one of the advantages of the newer projected nose designs, but how much this is true in real life I don't know, never having owned a car with a flathead engine.

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[turbostude]

In my experience, the stock plug electrode is shrouded by the plug hole. In other words, the plug does not protrude into the chamber any appreciable amount. This never made sense to me. The holes are tapped all the way thru.... I tried using surface gap plugs in my race engine, but this was on my special heads. Those were hard to read and were limited in heat range. I have heard of using hotter heat range plugs in cylinders burning more oil.

Greg
http://Salt2Salt.com
http://Turbostude.com
http://turbostude.com/Tribaker (LP three-wheeler project)

[N8N]

if that is the case, maybe while the head is off use an end mill to fine tune the length of the threads of the spark plug holes? (AFTER any porting, cleanup, etc. is done of course) obviously this would only be done if someone were building a performance engine

nate

--
55 Commander Starlight
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

[TroyN]

Thanks guys,
I thought that this was a myth. I have had no trouble running the standard plugs in my car. I just wanted some feed back, because my college from work mentioned the above comment, and that was at least the third time I have heard that comment before.