OK tuners! Here's my car...'53 Buick Special 263 inline 8...AC R45 plugs, .028 gap...Stromberg Aerotype jetted at .049...timing set to provide about 18.5 in vacuum at idle (I can't find the mark on the flywheel!)...idles and runs great... My plug insulators are white after about 100 miles of driving with the plugs...plus, there are a few lighter colored speckles on the plugs that can really only be seen with a flashlight. The ring around the base of the plug has about 7/8 turn of flat black color, along with about 1/3 to 1/2 of the ground strap. This really isn't a full throttle car at all, so the speckles puzzle me (when would it detonate, especially with 7.6 compression). I don't want to go much richer on the carb because the base of the plugs look about right. It's running on all 8 with even compression. Am I missing something, or worrying a little too much here? Thanks for any insight. Aaron
Well, a few more miles down the road and they tanned up. I had stepped up two jet sizes and bumped up the timing...hopefully it's good now!
I am not sure about your plug issue. I have the same engine with the original carter wcd carb on it and am not having any problems. I have my plugs gapped at .25. My question for you is do you know where i can but the rear seal for the dynaflop that is in these, and also the heating coil that is on the side of the exhaust manifold. I drove it to the hunnert last weekend (a 4 hr round trip) and the exhaust manifold was white as snow when I got there. I had just gotten exhaust put on it the day before.
Try Bob's Automobilia...they're on the internet and they're good to work with. Also try buickfarm.com...they're all NOS but may have what you're looking for. I think I've finally got the tuning down on mine (hopefully!)...but I've said that before! Was your exhaust extra hot? Your heat valve may be stuck closed. That's the thing below the intake manifold. Try to move it around...the heat valve is running position when the top of the flap lever is pointed toward the engine. I unwound my spring one wind so the carb gets no exhaust heating. You may want to check your timing and plugs too if the manifold was discolored. You don't want to crack one of those things...they're EXPENSIVE!!! Bob's will hook you up...the heat valve is almost 300 bucks though...try to find a used one first, but it may be tough. The Dynaflow parts shouldn't cost much. Good luck!
The Jalopy Journal
