454 Plugs? What's the best?

[trevmountain]

Ok I know plenty of people have posted this question. To be honest I probably have posted this question before. I know opinions vary on this. I just want to get another feel for what spark plug is gonna be the best for my engine.

Here is the rundown on my motor, it's a 454 bored to a 468, 9.5 compression, 049 heads with minor port work, port matched bowl blending, 206 int 172 exh valves. hyd roller cam, dur @ .050 int 236 exh 245, .625 int valve lift .639 exh lift, 112 lobe seperation, 1.7 rocker arm ratio, 110 degree. Edelbrock RPM Performer intake with stage 3 Q jet. 3 inch TriY headers

Motor is brand new, my engine builder put champion race plugs in it. Don't know why but that's what he used. Let's hear some opinions.

Thanks

 

[76zimmer]

I hate champions....I run the manufacturers plug choice, in this case AC, that is what my head guy recommended.

My 461 is similar to your build, and it runs very well on the AC's.

PS, you really should open those heads up to 2.19's and 1.88's though. Huge improvement especially with the cam your running.

 

[ryoken]

as usual, imo you can't beat AC's in a Chevy...

leave the Champion's for the lawnmower...

 

[76zimmer]

as usual, imo you can't beat AC's in a Chevy...

leave the Champion's for the lawnmower...

LM9?

 

[ryoken]

I really hated Champion for what they had become.. they may be getting better these days... but for a LONG time they where what Accel became. a company living on it's laurels... pull a Champion out of the box, and it literally looked like it was made in 1972...

 

[trevmountain]

Yes these champions appear old as balls, they most certainly appear to have been made in the 70's, that was my thought exactly when I pulled one today. . Ya and aren't champions more of a dodge plug.

So before building this motor I was running AC rapid fire's. Is this what you guys are recommending for my application? Or does AC make a more performance-race oriented plug that I may want to run?

And yes I really wanted to go with the bigger valves and it was kind of a money thing and I decided to put my money into the roller cam instead of putting it into the heads. The motor already had some nice stainless valves in their and I just couldn't swing the cash for the machining. Oh well gives me something to shoot for in the future if I get bored. I'm pretty happy with motor so far, dyno'd in the mid 500's both hp and torq. Just have to get my gearing figured out and my torque converter. Speaking of which can I switch gears for a minute and pick your guy's brains for a sec while i've got your attention.

So looking at my engine specs and knowing my rig is an 84 k30 what stall speed and gears should i go with? Running 37" tires and I also have a gear vendors overdrive.

This truck is my toy. Yes I do use it for work a little bit and if needed I wouldn't mind being able to tow a load. This is a rare accurance and towing is really not a huge concern. I have a tranny cooler and could get a temp gauge if needed. I also don't need to go 90 mph either, but wouldn't mind having the ability to cruise comfortable at maybe 75 mph from time to time.

The sum of this trucks use is toying around town and showing it off. Some light wheeling in the hills with friends to show it off and cruising down the highway at 60 mph also while showing if off. Yes a great big expensive toy. When I hit the go pedal I want to feel it. I'm in the process of building a trac bar as well.

As of now, from what I have gathered so far, my direction is 4:88's, stall speed somewhere between 2000 and 3000. Let's hear some thoughts.

Thanks

 

[76zimmer]

If your thinking of doing any towing at any time, wouldn't run a high stall convertor. It will create a lot of heat on its own, and with a load behind you, even more so.
I think you done good if by having to compromise somewhere it would be in the heads, and by putting your money in the short block you have a big/strong foundation on which to build up later. An engine builder told me one time to build the biggest short block you can afford, as top end improvements are always changing and easier to do than bottom end. I do see a choke being in the valves though. Those are great heads for what you want your engine to be, just need to open them up some. I have AC R45TS in my 781's and feel they get the job done real nicely. My cam is a little smaller on lift .550/.568 solid flat tappet w/ 230/236 duration @ .050 and 9.4 c.r. runs great on premium, and pulls down a solid 3gal/hr while crawling. I run the same carb/intake as you do. I run a 1800 stall convertor and a doulber w/4.56 and 40's. I think it would do fine running about 70 (but need to get rid of my death wobble issue first). Good luck.

 

[trevmountain]

I assume you have a 3 speed auto be it a 350 or 400. Let's say you had overdrive, I would think you would want lower gears especially with 40's right? But without overdrive I guess driving on the highway to go wheeling wouldn't be to fun with anything lower than 4:56.

Honestly I don't know much about this, always in the learning stage. It is interesting though to see all the different set ups guys are running. I mean yes towing is something I will do with the truck. Not often but I do want that option. Also I know if I go to high on stall I will just end up cirlcling around to same problem, no bottem end. I want mucho bottem end. The most bottem end I can muster while keeping things streetable, somewhat tow happy and such.


Your running an 1800 stall, hmm, well I guess the big question is what is stock stall on a k30 t 400. Be nice to know where I'm at currently.

So the AC R45TS, is this the plug of choice for those that are using Delco's in there big blocks?