Hello all,
I am gonna be getting the Pinto ready for Carlisle & one of the things I'm gonna do is change the spark plugs. What I'd like to know is what kind of spark plug works best in the 2.3 engine my Pinto has?
I am currently running Autolite standards in them, but they tend to create a heavy miss in the engine.
Are there any other plugs anyone else would recommend to put in the car? I want to get a plug that's the best possible plug without spending $5 per plug. I work for Advance auto, but the computer obviously doesnt know what works best for these little cars of ours.
Hello R4PINTO,
I have the best results with the stock plugs by using a sharp needle file to make sure the new plugs are sharp edged, as the factory just mill them out 1000s at a time.
I spend 5-10 minuets each, filing and gapping.
I can't help you beyond that because I have not tried the Nipendenso style plug. mostly because it is hard to find for the Ford 2.0 13/16 plug.
This is a great toppic!
I hope to read more!!!!!!!!
From pintony
I doubt it is your Autolites causing the miss. I run Autolites in EVERY one of my vehicles, and have never had one fail. You may need a different heat range in your car. You may also need to check your plug wires. Even if they are new, it doesn't mean they are good. I think that my plug number is 764, for the 2.3L. I have had o.k. experience with ND, but I would stick with the Autolites.
yeah, the 764 is what I'm running in the car. As far as the plug wires I am running a set of Xacts that I bought for a 78 Runabout I used to have. They're about 2" longer than the o.e. so I'm planning on going with the Autolite Professional plug wires for it which are closer to the o.e. length.
Just wasn't too sure about plug brand if other types run better in the 2.3 Pinto setup.
I dont care what anyone says, bosch platnum plugs are great plugs, atleast in 4 cylinders. I did have problems with them in one of the V8s ive had. (dont know what that matters but ok) but they have always been great in my pinto. I cant get motorcrafts but they are (from what i am told) are just AC delcos that are relabeled....(i thought delco was a GM supplier??) Have had delco plugs just quit fire randomly (no reason at all!) and they just dont seem to last that long. Thats my 2 cents. :)
& that's the whole point of my post.. To find out what plug people think is best for the 2.3 Pinto. especially since I haven't had much luck with autolite in the past or present.
Keep the replies coming!!! ;D
I use NGK plugs. I love them! I am a NGK guy though, that is all I use on everything I own, from my Pinto to my jetski's to my lawn mower.
I ran the autolights, I wasnt happy with them I had a small miss every once in awhile. I switched over to NGK, havent had that problem since.
Thats what I use.
I know I got NGK's in my Toyota, Champion in my Omni turbo & autolites in my Pinto. Out of all I'd say the NGK's work the best, but they better at 6 bux a pop.. iridium spark plugs. Dunno if I'd go as far as putting them in my Pinto though.
Plugs I have ran before are. Champion RS9YC for a 2.3 and CHAMPION F9YC for the 2.0. If you are running an Aluminum head go with a NGK D7EA.
so the Champion plug works well in the Pinto2.3? Looks like quite a few people have different opinions on what works best in that engine. I might just have to run them on different times to see which plug works best. I might even try the Autolite single or double platinum just to see how she does..
I don't hav ethe engine in my Pinto yet, and it's not the stock 2.3 anyway so I can't help you there.
In the past I have run mostly GM, and for those I usually went Delco without a problem... until I tried AC Delco Rapidfire plugs. Rapidfires are garbage and stopped working correctly in about a month and had to be replaced.
My wife's cougar has Motorcraft and no problems yet, but she hardly ever drives it.
I have NGK Iridiums in my bike, and I love them. Yes, quite expensive (especially because it's a 2 cyl and the only place that could get them for me had to order in sets of 4), but I do believe it is a case of getting what you pay for.
The big problem is that it tends to be a personal persective part. Kind of like tires. There are a lot of brands and styles of tires out there, and a lot of them are good quality. But what I like and think gives a good ride, someone else may not care for. So our suggestions are only really going to get you half way. From there you will have to decide what works with your wallet, what's available, and whose suggestion you trust.
Thanx for the heads up on the Autolites. My suggestions would be the NGK, or the Bosch (I've heard good things about Bosch, but have no experience with them).
i use auto light in allmost every thing i have and they all work great. as far as the bosh spark plugs ill never buy another one in my life. i had less than 30 miles on them and had to pull the motor so i cleaned every thing up including the plugs and 3 would barely even spark. i picked one one of the old autolight plugs up off the floor that had been laying in dirt, grease, oil dry, and whatever else was on the floor and just wiped it off on my pants and had a whole lot better spark that the new clean bosh plugs did