cottoneg

I am an NGK spark plug believer. Autolite and AC Delco are also good plugs, I also tried Champions and think they were the worst.

I normally use the NGK V-power spark plug . I see they also make an IX iridium plug. Anyone try it? They are double the price and wonder if they are worth it.

TWINRAY

I've found no need for anything over a "base" plug for the Chevy V8 - whether they be Autolites, NGK or AC's. I might use Champions in my Lawn mower if nothing else is available.

texas jim

I've been building SBCs and other engines, bike motors included, f/ well over 30 years, and I've always like NGK and ND spark plugs. I file the negative electrode back, looking from the top, to where it's half way across the positive electrode, to where it splits the circle(positive electrode). This way you get a wide strip of fire instead of that little fine line. Even in engines that foul plugs from burning oil, these filed back plugs out last anything and then some. Champion produced these filed back versions f/ marine engines in the 1950s. Also, I see that some companies now sell what they call "race plugs" that are the short version and w/ the short(filed back) electrode, and f/ twice the price of the regulars. Try it you'll like it f/ sure.

worship79

Have a picture of that Jim?

I run NGK plus myself, very pleased with them, but iridium plugs only seem to be clever marketing.

MotorHead

I have been using NGK plugs forever. Just get the ones with the correct thread depth, seat ( gasket or tapered ) and heat range. They are good plugs, forget about the fancy gold plated ones or whatever, they were designed for new engines that make it near impossible to change yourself so they last a little longer. The normal NGK plugs will last for years if it not a daily driver

7T1vette

I have NGK irridium plug in a van of mine. They are specified for it in the Owner's Manual and the replacement cylce is every 100,000 miles! I've changed plugs in the van once (and don't intend to ever do THAT again ). But, the good news is that the plugs I removed were "clean as a pin".

That made me a believer in them and I will likely consider them for the Corvette at the next plug/change cycle.

Jeff_Keryk

Iridium plugs last longer; that's it. As others have stated, they cost $10 a piece and last 100K miles. I just replaced 4 in an Acura TSX. My 68 Vette and 65 442 get cheapo Autolites.

jordan89

I use NGK plugs on all of my vehicles. I tend to go with the Platinums, and not with the coppers, as they burn out quicker. I have been thinking about going with iridums next time. I would never use Champion plugs again. I tried them once(platinums) and they were horrible.

dar322

Champions that bad? Why? What's the reason? Anyone do any testing from one plug to the next? Thx.

7T1vette

Uhhh..... If you get 100,000 miles out of irridium NGK's, that is less expensive than buying 5 sets of AC/Autolite/etc plugs and changing them every 20,000 miles.

And, for a Corvette engine with the plug heat shielding and ignition shielding, using NGK irridium becomes a "no-brainer".

Marlin

I've used just about everyplug out there and 99% of the time they will all make a spark and fire the engine.

The 2 biggest issues I have seen are the plugs that just use paint on the threads (AC delco, Autolite, etc...) and the temp range being a little off.
The painted ones rust more easly and can cause issues when they need to be removed.

Never had a problem with champion plugs. Had them in plenty of customers cars and had a set in my old Mazda "Ranger" b4000 and worked fine.

MotorHead

Bought a dead Champion plug when I first bought my Corvette, if quality control is so bad that a plug won't fire....well I guess you know how I feel about them

TWINRAY

In the early 90's, my wife's '79 Camaro stalled on her on the road locally and I had to tow/push it home. I had just recently put plugs (Champions) in and started chasing down everything else to see why it didn't start. I then said, it's not the plugs but I'll change them (to Autolites) anyway. The car then promptly fired up. I've used Autolites (the cheap ones) since and never had a problem with the, infrequently driven, car.

cottoneg

Not a scientific test, but I can tell you when I ran Champions, the car would break up at the end of track events. Then the car would break up on the street. With NGK’s I could run the car on the street, run an event, and still keep running the car on the street.

However the reason for this thread was not to bash Champion’s, but to see if it was worthwhile trying a set of the NGK IX iridium plugs.

7T1vette

Yes. And I think you are getting a significant number of responses that indicate the irridium NGK plugs are worth the money.

MotorHead

The iridium spark plugs last longer, but how many miles do you put on your Vette a year ?

7T1vette

The point is...you'll NEVER have to change them again.

markids77

My youth was spent running marginally capable (read completely worn out) two stroke motorcycles. My experience has been that for an 89 cent plug, an Autolite beats anyone hands down for resistance to fouling and longevity through repeated cleanings. If you had $1.00 each to spend, a NGK would outlast the Autolite three or more to 1. Champions were the same price as Autolites so they got used only as required when I needed a plug that day. My 77 Corvette is equipped with "standard" NGK plugs at present, and since changing the plugs is nowhere near as big a deal as a wire swap I will continue to feed ALL my stuff with el-cheapo NGKs.

RIJVETTES

I've put 65K miles on my vette. I've used Champion plugs (ok), NGK (fine), and now AC (probably the best). I'll likely buy them again.

Frankly, I think most of the basic copper plugs are about the same, and most of what we hear about them is just advertising hype.

noonie

I pulled the irridiums out of my wife's car at 110,000 miles.
Looked like brand new, but the gap had grown to .070".
Re gapped them back to the specified .050" and put them back in.
Runs great.