[DeTomaso] Champion 71 RC12YC

[Christopher Kimball]

We checked, and for the Edelbrock aluminum heads I have, the long reach was the one to use.  When I pulled out the most recent plugs, I found they were the shorter variety.  I noticed some static/distortion coming through the speakers when listening to the radio (only when the engine was running) and after I switched to the long-reach plugs, the noise went away.  My suspicion is that perhaps some of the spark was "leaking" to the heads since the sparks were so close to the edge of the heads.

Chris



> From: JDeRyke at aol.com
> Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2010 15:05:16 -0500
> To: chuck at pantera.ws; detomaso at realbig.com
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Champion 71 RC12YC
> 
> In a message dated 12/30/10 7:56:08 AM, chuck at pantera.ws writes:
> 
> > Like many on this list, I'm not an expert but I've been playing with 
> > Fords, HDs, Sportsters, RevTechs, Triumph bikes and cars, MG's, Nortons, VW, 
> > BSA, Simca, Chebes, BMW, Porches etc, etc, etc since I was 14. It's been my 
> > experience over the 48+ years that if the rest of the engine is 'correct' I
> > could attach a plug wire to a butter knife, jam it in the hole and that 
> > SOB would fire. 
> > 
> Absolutely agree. But the original question was on plug reach, and we still 
> don't know what reach (threaded length) plugs Edelbrock specifies for their 
> new aluminum heads, and whether they're designed to run gasketed or 
> gasket-less. And of course, running a too-long plug can induce physical contact 
> between a high compression piston & a proruding plug nose. Many alloy heads use 
> a thicker deck and thus a longer plug, and some alloy heads can run 
> w/without a spark plug gasket. 
> My SVO aluminum heads specify a 5/8"-reach plug either with or without a 
> spark plug gasket. Aluminum-head Corvette plugs fit it fine; I just don't tell 
> the heads what brand's in place..... I think ACs are in there now but they 
> might be Champions or Motorcraft. On the street, they all work well for me. 
> Running a short plug changes the way my engine runs at higher rpms (probably 
> has to do with the Ford Duraspark ignition) and will build up carbon on the 
> bare threads exposed below a short plug.   FWIW- J Deryke
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