What do these spark plugs look like to you?

I think I am going to go buy one now. And new plugs. Should I get the stock autolite plugs for a 97 Explorer (what the heads came off of) or something a little cooler?

If so, does someone know what model number to get?

The ones I am running now are what you get when you ask for 97 Explorer.

Also, they need to work with the MSD, which I think platinums are not recommended.

Autolite website lists 764 as stock for 97 explorer.

 

For whatever this is worth, I have been running Autolite platinums daily with my MSD for almost two years, doesn't seem to be a problem...

 

From MSD forum...

I personally thought I read somewhere that it was recommended that you do not use platinum for some reason. Melted them or something like that.

I guess I was mistaken.

But they also recommend...

 

I tried platinum Autolites in the Sprint with the MSD...Car ran very poorly.Changed to non-platinum autolites...No problems since...

 

The lack of resistance in the platinum causes the MSD box to cycle too quickly and not allow the coil to soak long enough...
At least thats what I was told to believe by a rather sage motorhead...

 

A little research and I found that the 2543 is the AL plug of choice for the Lightning truck guys. Same heads I run, and 2 steps colder than stock.

I will see if I can snag a set of those tomorrow.

 

That would make sense, but perhaps I've countered that with the relatively large gap I'm running. Also using resistance wire... Just a guess though.

That makes sense too. If I'd installed the MSD before the plugs I probably wouldn't have got the platinums. I'm quite sure they aren't working any better than a copper plug and I generally roll my eyes at the vast majority of trick/gimmick spark plugs as far as performance goes... The only reason I run platinums in anything is their supposed longevity. I hate changing plugs in tight engine compartments, and the longer I wait before I have to do that again in the Maverick the happier I'll be.

 

Go to the auto store and tell them what eng. you have and they will give you the plug you need. you say you have a 302 v8 the right plug fot that eng is a autolite brf 42 and set it at 42 and you will be ok. check the dark plug wire for a miss fire . If you have a timing light hook it to that plug and watch it fire if it blinks then change that wire . That is a sure way to chevk and you wont get shocked.good luck

 

Okay, disregard everything I said about running Autolite platinums on an MSD. This thread got me curious about the condition of my plugs, so I just went and checked one of them...

It looks great. Nice tan color, no carbon or erosion or anything, but it's not an Autolite. I am in fact running Motorcraft BSF42C's gapped at .060.

Now what did I put those Autolite platinums in...? :hmm:

 

For some reason i'm thinking I couldn't get an Autolite platinum... or was it the double platinum? Pretty sure it was the platinum I was looking for.

Edit: This was years ago. I see them listed at O.

 

in my experience copper plugs are the best to run for performance. now this is before all this iridium stuff came out and i dont know what to make of the iridium. the platnum plugs are just for longevity. they dont wear out nearly as fast as the copper ones do. the double platnum plugs are for waste spark ignitions.
i laugh to myself every time i read about somebody not liking to change the plugs on these cars. ive changed plugs on lots of cars and the mav (with a 302) is on the easyer side. try any front wheel drive v6 car. 3 of the plugs are easy but the other 3 are done by brail. you really want a challange try a 4th gen camaro with a lt1 motor. now thats a hard one.

 

oh also the platnum plugs have higher resistance than a copper plug. copper is really conductive where platnum is not as conductive.

 

Try changing the plugs on a new hemi truck.

Oh, and don't forget, there are SIXTEEN of them!

It took me over 2 hours the first time and my arms looked like I had run a cheese grater over them. Then I paid the dealer to do it the next time.

Hey Faceless. Do you know if your heads use the same sized plugs as the GT40 heads?

It would be nice to walk in and ask for a specific model such as "motorcraft BSF42C"

 

I'm thinking no... The threaded end of your plugs look to be a lot narrower than mine.

I didn't say they were the worst I've ever done, but they are very annoying. I have stock manifolds, and they still have those hoist bracket things on them, plus I have power steering, power brakes, and now it's even worse because I've added that huge stock AC compressor. Laugh if you want, but your car, has none of that in the way, and headers. Not the same job at all...

I will rejoice when I finally get some headers on this car, but first I've got to do a floor shift conversion, which means I've got to get the parts together to delete the column shift, and I need a drop bracket for the steering, and I've got to be ready to get the exhaust redone right away because I drive this thing, and I need the time to do it all. The stars haven't aligned for all that yet, and I pray I won't need plugs in the meantime because I could probably swap the damn transmission in less time and with fewer bloody knuckles.

 

Oh, I recall vividly when I had all that stuff in the way the first (and last) time I swapped plugs in the maverick. I never touched them again until I cut the towers and put in headers.

Well, I just got back from all three auto part stores and failed miserably with getting cooler plugs. They carry what is stock on the cars, but don't seem to carry any cooler ones. I could have gotten a couple of hotter plugs, but nothing cooler than stock.

I DID get a laser temperature probe and I am currently shooting everything in the house with it.

Even shot my truck. Flowmaster muffler was 180, exhaust manifold was right around 400.