The Ford Barn

TomT/Williamsburg · 06-04-2014, 10:36 AM

Just wondering if anyone has experimented with some of the other spark plugs that cross reference with the Autolite 216 or the NGK B6L? I picked up a set of autolite 4316 which are a copper core plug but dimensionally the same as the 216?

Also the NGK B6L crosses to an NGK 3212?

If you google Autolite 216 you will get a link to a cross ref table and this is where my question springs from. We all liked the NGK plug and there have been problems with the Chinese made Autolite 216s - just looking for an alternative is all ....

russcc · 06-04-2014, 07:07 PM

Bill Sinclair' book "Thunder Road Flathead Guide" gets into the options on page 43 & 44.

Bassman/NZ · 06-04-2014, 07:09 PM

My Autolites cracked the porcelain, well 4 of them did. Almost new too. I guess they were chinese.

franksford · 06-04-2014, 09:12 PM

I built an 59a engine with new Narvaro heads and installed NGK plugs the engine would not ever fire. I called H&H and ask what plugs they recomended for those heads, Autolite was there answer. i put them in and it fired right up. I touched nothing else. Bottom line, it worked for me.

Frank

TomT/Williamsburg · 06-05-2014, 07:54 AM

Thanks for the responses guys .... I appreciate it

Frank - hmmmm - sounds like the NGKs were not the best for you. I would swear by them but now I'm not so sure ...

Russ - how long ago was Sinclair's book written? I sent you a PM BTW ....

Bassman - that's what has been happening with them. The Autolite boxes I've seen say either made in Mexico or China. I guess we had similar issues with the Mexican ones until they got their act together so we'll have to do the same with the Chinese stuff. Just does not help you when you are on the road as I am a lot - guess I'll take a couple spare sets of plugs on my next trip just in case .....

sidevalve8ba · 06-05-2014, 08:11 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Tom,

I'm using Autolites in my 8BA now and they are head and shoulders above the Champions they replaced. I do have a set of NGK's as a back up though. Never hurts to have a back-up, right?

Ted

Vic Piano · 06-05-2014, 08:20 AM

I've used Autolite plugs in all our Flatheads for years, stopped using champions in the mid '80's... 216'f for stock heads and 437's for Offy Aluminum heads.

TomT/Williamsburg · 06-05-2014, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vic Piano

I've used Autolite plugs in all our Flatheads for years, stopped using champions in the mid '80's... 216'f for stock heads and 437's for Offy Aluminum heads.

Vic - if I remember correctly you bought out a whole bunch of non-Chinese ones not too long ago, right?

I may try the 4316s on the trip out to BTTFs and make a comparison (of sorts) ....

Vic Piano · 06-05-2014, 08:58 AM

Tom, that's right, I bought 100 Autolite 216's several years ago... They are all gone now so, I have been using the "new" Autolite 216's for a while...

TomT/Williamsburg · 06-05-2014, 03:28 PM

Wow - I forget you have that many vehicles to run through 100 spark plugs!

Vic Piano · 06-05-2014, 04:32 PM

Yup, a bunch of Flatheads, and you know I like to drive them a lot...

and at high RPM's... LOL Back when I bought the plugs, I got a good deal, they were a buck a each.

quickchange34 · 06-05-2014, 10:56 PM

NKG has worked for me. Never had a come back using them.

BILL WZOREK · 06-06-2014, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickchange34

NKG has worked for me. Never had a come back using them.

By that Quote did you mean that you never made it home

while using them !!!

lol / lol

quickchange34 · 06-06-2014, 11:20 PM

By that Quote I ment all the engines I have done for other people went out with NKG plugs and they keep running.

TomT/Williamsburg · 06-07-2014, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quickchange34

NKG has worked for me. Never had a come back using them.

Which NGK are you using?

Thanks ....

quickchange34 · 06-07-2014, 09:56 PM

TomT I have been using the B6L in the blower motors and also the normal carb motors.I have a set of them in my blower motor in my three window coupe. They do a great job even with the duel side draft Weber carbs.

Terry,OH · 08-23-2014, 02:33 PM

NGK as well as other plug Co.s have two numbers for their plugs one is the number on the plug such as B6L and the other is a skiew # for the same plug.
I have been running NGK B5ES in Eddie Meyer 21 stud heads.

06-04-2014, 10:36 AM	#1
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,714	Spark Plugs Just wondering if anyone has experimented with some of the other spark plugs that cross reference with the Autolite 216 or the NGK B6L? I picked up a set of autolite 4316 which are a copper core plug but dimensionally the same as the 216? Also the NGK B6L crosses to an NGK 3212? If you google Autolite 216 you will get a link to a cross ref table and this is where my question springs from. We all liked the NGK plug and there have been problems with the Chinese made Autolite 216s - just looking for an alternative is all ....

06-04-2014, 07:07 PM	#2
russcc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,871	Re: Spark Plugs Bill Sinclair' book "Thunder Road Flathead Guide" gets into the options on page 43 & 44.

06-04-2014, 07:09 PM	#3
Bassman/NZ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napier, New Zealand Posts: 2,001	Re: Spark Plugs My Autolites cracked the porcelain, well 4 of them did. Almost new too. I guess they were chinese.

06-04-2014, 09:12 PM	#4
franksford Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Rockford Michigan Posts: 191	Re: Spark Plugs I built an 59a engine with new Narvaro heads and installed NGK plugs the engine would not ever fire. I called H&H and ask what plugs they recomended for those heads, Autolite was there answer. i put them in and it fired right up. I touched nothing else. Bottom line, it worked for me. Frank

06-05-2014, 07:54 AM	#5
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,714	Re: Spark Plugs Thanks for the responses guys .... I appreciate it Frank - hmmmm - sounds like the NGKs were not the best for you. I would swear by them but now I'm not so sure ... Russ - how long ago was Sinclair's book written? I sent you a PM BTW .... Bassman - that's what has been happening with them. The Autolite boxes I've seen say either made in Mexico or China. I guess we had similar issues with the Mexican ones until they got their act together so we'll have to do the same with the Chinese stuff. Just does not help you when you are on the road as I am a lot - guess I'll take a couple spare sets of plugs on my next trip just in case .....

06-05-2014, 08:11 AM	#6
sidevalve8ba Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Harrisonburg, VA Posts: 915	Re: Spark Plugs Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Tom, I'm using Autolites in my 8BA now and they are head and shoulders above the Champions they replaced. I do have a set of NGK's as a back up though. Never hurts to have a back-up, right? Ted Last edited by sidevalve8ba; 06-05-2014 at 09:45 AM.

06-05-2014, 08:20 AM	#7
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Spark Plugs I've used Autolite plugs in all our Flatheads for years, stopped using champions in the mid '80's... 216'f for stock heads and 437's for Offy Aluminum heads. __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

06-05-2014, 08:58 AM	#9
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Spark Plugs Tom, that's right, I bought 100 Autolite 216's several years ago... They are all gone now so, I have been using the "new" Autolite 216's for a while... __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

06-05-2014, 03:28 PM	#10
TomT/Williamsburg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Williamsburg, Virginia Posts: 2,714	Re: Spark Plugs Wow - I forget you have that many vehicles to run through 100 spark plugs!

06-05-2014, 04:32 PM	#11
Vic Piano Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Odessa, FL Posts: 7,611	Re: Spark Plugs Yup, a bunch of Flatheads, and you know I like to drive them a lot... and at high RPM's... LOL Back when I bought the plugs, I got a good deal, they were a buck a each. __________________ Imagination is more important than knowledge.

06-05-2014, 10:56 PM	#12
quickchange34 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: charlottesville, Va. Posts: 589	Re: Spark Plugs NKG has worked for me. Never had a come back using them.

06-06-2014, 11:20 PM	#14
quickchange34 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: charlottesville, Va. Posts: 589	Re: Spark Plugs By that Quote I ment all the engines I have done for other people went out with NKG plugs and they keep running.

06-07-2014, 09:56 PM	#16
quickchange34 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: charlottesville, Va. Posts: 589	Re: Spark Plugs TomT I have been using the B6L in the blower motors and also the normal carb motors.I have a set of them in my blower motor in my three window coupe. They do a great job even with the duel side draft Weber carbs.

08-23-2014, 02:33 PM	#17
Terry,OH Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 5,188	Re: Spark Plugs NGK as well as other plug Co.s have two numbers for their plugs one is the number on the plug such as B6L and the other is a skiew # for the same plug. I have been running NGK B5ES in Eddie Meyer 21 stud heads.