Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

[James W.]

During NCRS flight judging; do the judges ask the owner to remove a spark plug boot to verify that the correct AC Delco 43 spark plugs are installed? I am getting the car ready to be judged in the next few weeks and I still have the AC Delco R45XLS plugs in the car.


Thanks,

James West

[Keith B.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

No but on original spark plugs you can see the green paint rings. And manufactor.

[James W.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

No but on original spark plugs you can see the green paint rings. And manufactor.

I guess I don't see how they can see the greens stripes or AC marking with the boot installed. See attached picture. How are they able to see it?

[Keith B.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

I forgot 65-66 with the spark plug barrels. 67's don't have them and you can view them from under the car.

[Carl N.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

James, it's been a year or so since I judged but we did not pull the boots or judge the plugs, just the wires, shields, and shield bolts. FYI after you are thru judging and decide to drive the car you might want to consider NGK. When I started driving mine I tried all the usual plugs and found the NGK's to work best on it and my C5. Best of luck with the judging.

[James W.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

James, it's been a year or so since I judged but we did not pull the boots or judge the plugs, just the wires, shields, and shield bolts. FYI after you are thru judging and decide to drive the car you might want to consider NGK. When I started driving mine I tried all the usual plugs and found the NGK's to work best on it and my C5. Best of luck with the judging.

Hello Carl,

Once again thanks for your help. I'm still lookikng for a complete set of the original plugs for the NCRS National Convention but will give the NGK plugs a try in the mean time. I assume you gap them at the recommended .032"?

I've attached a few pictures of the car now that it is more or less finished, still a few small things to correct but it did do well at the ISCA show I put it in a few weeks ago. The judges didn't like the runs and overspray but I told them that all the other beauty queens in this show are no where near close to a correctly "factory restored" Corvette.

The car is scheduled for it first NCRS chapter flight judging meet on May 3rd.


Best Regards,

James West
Omaha, NE.

[John M.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

Sweet! Looks great James. Nice work.

[Joe L.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

During NCRS flight judging; do the judges ask the owner to remove a spark plug boot to verify that the correct AC Delco 43 spark plugs are installed? I am getting the car ready to be judged in the next few weeks and I still have the AC Delco R45XLS plugs in the car.


Thanks,

James West

James------


If you wish to install the original AC 43N plugs, there are several sets on eBay right now.

[Keith B.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

LIC is selling repro ones now too

[Carl N.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

James, I run NGK #4922 Copper Core gapped at .035 with .024 intake .026 exhaust and stock timing. I have played with a lot of plugs and valve settings and this works best for me with stock cam. I can lug it around town then open it up on the road to 6200 rpm without any hesitation or miss. The NGK's last about 5-6k miles with no issues. Most likely would last longer, but I change them every couple of years.The other plug I like is Champion #3405 gapped at .035 seems to do just as good as NGK - worst plug Autolite - Run Champions in radical 440 MoPar.Thanks for pic's car looks great - you should score very high w/ all the attention to detail.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Judging Big Block (1965) Spark Plugs

....If you wish to install the original AC 43N plugs, there are several sets on eBay right now.

Joe and Keith -- there's one set on eBay at $149 ; all the others are either commercial application (C43N) or sets with one fat green ring (and 3 thin ones), or resistor plugs (R43N -- '69 and up ?).

Long Island seems to be repro-ing the small block AC44's, but not the rat motor AC43N's.

I see nothing in the '65 TIM&JG about checking to see if the 396 plugs are AC43N. Anyway, if the grey boot is the stock long type, and is pushed fully on, you can't read anything, whether '65-'66 with the heat shield barrels, or the '67, without.


The situation may be different with small block plugs and the 90 degree boot, however.