Champion Plugs

I'm not really a Mopar man, however I know what works in them. I have a pal with a 68 Newport convertable, he is not interested in wrenching, so I take care of the car for him. I've always been told the Champion plugs go in old Mopars, and I've never had problems with them so I keep doing it.

Any way he brings the boat over for a tuneup. I check the timing, set the choke, check and set the points, check the cap and rotor and pull the plugs, they are due for replacement. We jump in my truck and head to local parts house. I ask for a set of RC12YC's he tells me they stopped carrying Champion plugs and offers me some E-3 super plug. I was thinking that there was a spiff on them so I insist on the Champions. No go. I don't see a single Champion plug in the store. I call tha advance the next town over and hear the same story. We ended up just cleaning the ones that were in it so he could drive it in the parade for the weekend, and I ordered them from Rock Auto.

Anybody else hear of this? I cant figure what would happen between Federal Mogul and Advance that would have them pull the Champion line. Anyway thoughts?? Keith

 

Having the same problem finding Champions for my '53 Chev. Only plug I'll run in ANY of my cars. Keep your platinum, dual core electrode, +2, +4, +whatever... Champion is the original good-burning, reliable, best performing plug. Just can't find 'em anymore...

 

I just walked into my local NAPA and got 8 RCY12YC's, oddly enough they keep them in stock for lawn mowers. It's also the plug Edelbrock recommends for their sbc aluminum heads.

 

E3's are all PAID FOR hype!

Dyno tests have proven NO difference in performance from the average run of the mill plug.

Champions have been loosing market ground because there are much better plugs on the market, ones that actually hold up.

 

Another thing is Plug Number vs. Stock Number!
Try to find out the companies stock number so the kid punching in the "RCY12YC" doesnt end up handing you a neon strobe l.e.d. kit!

But if they are fasing out Champion all together thats a different story...

 

The "Ol' Skool rule" was "Champs in Fords",.. "AC in Gen. Motors", and "Auto Lite in MoPar"

That all changed in 1963,...when Chrysler went to Champ, and Ford went to Auto Lite....

Using the correct heat range, and resistor, or non resistor, for the specific application, seems like the way to go,...brand name not withstanding ? I ended up using NGK for my 8BA flathead, in order to get the correct reach using Offy heads.....

4TTRUK

 

Having used champions as a kid and having good results until about the last 5 or so years....I used to use them in OT equipment around the homestead....got tired of having to replace them 2 times a year..started using autolites instead, haven't had a problem since...I know a lot of people that would not use a champion if you payed them....I don't know if the quality problems are from off-shoring , or running domestic tooling & workforce so hard the quality has slipped...either way , it HAS cost them market share....Shawn

 

And "the" plug (J10Y) for hi-perf street driven BB Mopars that started all this bs hasn't been available in its "real" form for decades anyway, since Champion went to thier "broad heat range" ******** back in the late eighties. A buddy of mine got all freaked out and bought up every box of obsolete J10Y's he could find. I just changed over to NGK and never looked back....

 

The motor doesn't care what brand plug, as long as it's correct for the application.

 

I got to go check my auto parts store. I also buy racing plugs from sparkplugs.com @ $4.99 each.

 

"Racing" sparkplugs are usually just a colder heat range from stock. "Racing" oils usually have a low additve package, because they are expected to be changed often.
"Racing" distributors often don't have a vacuum advance can for part throttle use.

Racing parts are not always the best choice for a street driven hot rod. Alot of of it is marketing hype. Just sayin'...

 

Try NAPA as stated above, saw them in store the other day with a coupon on the counter.

 

FWIW a lot of the guys over at the Online Imperial Club hate Champions and swear by Autolite 85's for the 413-440's

 

Here is a Champion outlet: Engine Research Company (ERC) 800-445-1479. They stock plugs and specialized in racing plugs when they became hard to find. It is mainly a racing fuel company with a long history.

 

always thought the same thing but my truck will start misfiring in less than six months with champions. i change ac's or autolites only for maintenance reasons, without ever misfiring.

 

I talked to a customer of mine tonight, he works for Advance Auto on a corprate level. I was told that Champion was getting out of the spark plug bus. Also they are getting ready to end the +4 and copper Bosch plugs as well. They are telling me that soon only platnium and iridium plugs will be on the shelves all others will be special order. I also was told that AutoLite is picking up the slack for you "normal" plugs. Take it for what you will.

I posted this more for the fact that Champion Spark Plugs, one of the standard names of the industry, well ever since there was an industry, is falling to the wayside. I used to love heading down to the garage where I had my first job in a shop (at 14). It had a large Champion logo painted on the outside of the building. That sign is still there. Keith

 

I've had mixed luck with champions on flatheads and fe motors but never a problem with autolite or Ngk

 

Ran Fords most of my life. Motorcraft, Autolites seem to be the ones that last. Never cared for Champions althou i like the history of the name.

 

The history and the logo is cool... the plugs themselves ****!

 

I've used Champions in my 327, but to tell the truth, I prefer ACs which seem to perform better.

 

I read this thread earlier today when it got started. Later I was at an antique store, a lady was asking for any signs for champion plugs. Later in the day I went to an old ghost town amd seen 2 champion signs. Crazy how things stick out in your head throughout a day.

 

I've always run those, they work very well in big block Mopars.

 

Search out and get a set of Autolites, champions have been **** for better than 30 years.

.Autolites will last many many miles while champions have a tendency to self destruct within a year or so

.

 

X's whatever on the Autolite copper cores. Good plug, put em in everything.

 

I've had good luck with the AC Delco Rapid Fires in my two fours equipped T. I put the NGK equivalent to the rc12y's in the Henry J and they looked really rich, where as the Champions seemed to burn cleaner.

 

Autolite in anything performance oriented. Champs in the lawnmower.

 

Yup, I agree though my 2 cycle Lawnboy absolutely purrs with NGK's

 

Champs never last in anything I've had Chev, Ford, I run Autolite in my flathead and have had good results. I run A/C in my chevs and Autolites in everything else. Champs just do not last even in lawn equipment. It is the only plug I used that gives me problems.

 

I had issues with autolite race plugs back in the late '90s, haven't really used them since.

 

Is there ANY merit to platinum? +2s? +4s? It seems like everyone is hyping some new advancement in spark plug technology every time I go to buy a set, but yesterdays engines weren't designed to run on them, and todays engines run on coil packs (many do anyway). So what's the advantage, if any? Just snake oil?

And how many GD razor blades do I need lined up in parallel rows to cut the stubble on my chin? And would you PLEASE stop making my toothbrushes all bendy and flexy in one spot or another? A stick with some friggin' bristles on it would do just fine, thank you.