AC spark plug question

[bobs409]

Can anyone tell me if R44TS is a replacement for AC44's?

The 327 in my 66 Impala originally took the AC44's but they no longer make them or so it seems. Autozone gave me the R44TS. Sound ok?


Thanks,

Bob

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,I just bought some AC-43's,and they had a new part # R43XLS :dunno

Bob,I just seen the plugs were for your 327 :doh I'll still keep my post,for the 409 plugs.

[64ss409]

Bob
Check the seat. The R44TS should be a tapered seat plug. You need one with a gasket. I have 10 or 12 boxes of AC plugs on the shelf, but not the new number for your application. Sorry, not much help on the correct number.

Jim
Weren't the 43's a short reach plug? The N43 was the long reach, or was it 43N? I hate it when I can't remember where the N went any more! :bang Anyway R43XLS is 3/4 reach for 409, right?
Ron

[bobs409]

Thanks Ron, I'll have to see what's in it now and compare.

I sure wish AC would leave well enough alone. Always changing things lately or screwing us with older cars. Remember the PF-25? Remember when the PF-141 was made in America with a metal sleeve? Now it's cardboard and made in Mexico. Now I can't even get the right spark plug! !#$@!

Soon, we'll all be building our old cars with Japanese stuff. Oh wait, that's already happened with alot of repro junk. :(

[bobs409]

Jim, I also use those in my 409. It's what everyone told me is a replacement although I have some doubts. It was use them or stick my fingers in the holes with an electrode up my.... :D

This reminds me of a fast one Late Great Chevy's pulled on me, also another reason I avoid them as I do. In their catalog they listed 43N which is the correct plug. They sent me the XLS's and told me they were the replacement for the old numbers. Heck, if I knew that, I would have just bought them locally for half the scalper price that LGC's charges! It was a trick into thinking they still had the right ones. That's sad. :( That and their highly inflated prices on most things led me to go elsewhere. Want a PF-141 for $10 when you can get one at any Chevy dealer for $5? :rolleyes:

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,I also had a hard time finding out the replacement for 43N.I went to 3 different parts stores,they all had different answers :dunno the 4th store had more time to look up the correct part #.I paid $14 for a set.

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,when you get some time,you should put in the the new Spark Plug # in the Tune Up Specs :)

[bobs409]

I just had a good laugh. Thought I'd take a look at one of those new plugs. Yep, tapered seat but it's also a 5/8" plug. :D Nope, not gonna work.

I should have suspected something when the guy asked me if I wanted fries with those spark plugs. :D :p

Now, what the heck plug should I use??? The car has R43S in now but that's 1 range colder than what is supposed to be in. Maybe go with R44S?

[Bungy]

Bob, I'd go with the R44S. The R means resistor for less radio interference and computer interference which all cars have today so that's why all the plugs have the R The T is for tapered seat (which is what you don't want) and the S is for extended tip. In my opinion this is a better plug. The tip is further out into the combustion chamber better exposing the spark and also burns cleaner. If you put a 44S plug next to a 44 plug you'll see what the difference is.
:cheers

[JimKwiatkowski]

R43XLS Spark Plugs is the replacement for AC43N,my 409 has never started so quick or ran so nice since switching :D

[Rockfish39]

Running 46N plugs in mine... No problem here either...

Jimi, R43XLS is what my Dodge truck takes. Same plug fits 409??? Never knew that.. :doh

Will try those next time

Rock :cool:

[JimKwiatkowski]

Hey Rock,I thought Dodge used Champion plugs. :dunno I never heard oy a 46N,what is that a different heat range?

[bobs409]

Ok, here we go again! I took the plugs back and went to another place and they sold me R43. I said the owners manual calls for 44's but he told me they don't make them anymore and the R43 is the equivalent. Something smells fishy though. The 43 would be one range cooler, right? I really don't want to go that way, the plugs are sooty now.

So, should I use these, try to find 45's perhaps or try what's behind the doors of auto parts store #3? (who knows what I'll get the next time) :?

What happened to the day when you could just go buy spark plugs for a 327? I cannot believe this. I'm about ready to write off AC products all together. First they changed the oil filters by dropping the PF25, now their thinning out the spark plug selection. And forget trying to find an PF141 short of going to a Chevy dealer. Sorry for the rant, but it baffles me as to why I can buy a cannister filter made by Fram or something else off the shelf but AC's are like striking gold. (and then you read it's made in Mexico!)

Ok, I'm done now. ;) :p

[JimKwiatkowski]

Bob,I'll call the parts store that gave me the replacement part # for the 43N.There a small independent parts store that have been in bussiness for over 50 years,none young parts counter kids that don't know anything :doh

[Phil Reed]

me thinks Bob needs some Ridilin!!!!!! :rofl :rofl

[bobs409]

Naw, Bob needs some AC spark plugs!!! :cuss

If I don't find the right ones soon, I'm changing to Autolites! :takethat (I never thought I'd say that) :eek:

I never thought I'd see the day when finding common parts like spark plugs and oil filters for a small block Chevy would be challenging. Makes me wonder what another 15-20 years is gonna do to this hobby. :cry

[JimKwiatkowski]

[QUOTE=bobs409]Naw, Bob needs some AC spark plugs!!! :cuss

If I don't find the right ones soon, I'm changing to Autolites! :takethat (I never thought I'd say that)

Bob,don't use Autolites :doh I used them in the 09 and the 09 started hard and the plugs were black.I called the parts store and they said the 43's replace the 44's :( I asked if they had any 44's left and they did,I asked how much $ 5 each :doh :deal .I guess they thought I was restoreing a 66 with the orginal part #

[Ronnie Russell]

Guys, Correct info. is in previous posts. Original 409 , 43N , superceded by R43N years later when resistor plugs came in , superceded by R43XLS in the last few years. Colder plug -R42XLS warmer plug R44XLS . R43XLS is readily available and performs well in all h.p. versions for street use.

[SS425HP]

We used the 42N for racing, and 43N for the street. Actually, I used the Autolite plugs with the extended tip to get the flame front started more in the middle of the chamber. Seemed like it helped. No dynos back then, at least around here. The R43XLS is what I'm using, today. They do soot up idling, but look pretty good after highway running. I think the R42XLS might be ok for racing, but I would look real hard at them after a lap. Shut it down, and look at the turn off at the end of the strip.

Fred

[JimKwiatkowski]

Fred,bring both Spark Plugs to Norwalk and see which preforms best :dunno

[bobs409]

I decided to ask AC Delco directly about this. They told me the 44's are no longer available but said their product developers have decided the R43 is the best replacement. It is one step colder and they said I could get R45's which would be hotter but they recommend not too.

So, basically, I still don't know what to get. Guess I can give the 43's a try but thinking they may be too cold.

On another issue, I asked if I could purchase their PF141 oil filters in bulk direct from them because they are such a pain to find but they cannot sell to the general public. :(

[bobs409]

me thinks Bob needs some Ridilin!!!!!! :rofl :rofl

If that's supposed to be Ritalin like in the drug, could you Express mail me some Phil? :D I'm gonna need something soon! :help I just tried to buy molded radiator hoses. Guess what? Napa says the lower is discontinued. They sold me an upper but it doesn't look like it's gonna fit to me.

The other places I tried only had flex hose which IMO looks like #!@# I'll keep the old ones on before I'll put those on.

I think it's easier to find 409 parts than those for a 327! :cuss

[Rockfish39]

... On another issue, I asked if I could purchase their PF141 oil filters in bulk direct from them because they are such a pain to find but they cannot sell to the general public. :(

Bob, try a WIX 51143 instead. Several times Ive seen comments that you have made concerning the PF-141. Made in Mexico, No longer in a metal can, nothing more toilet paper on a stick and so on...

About a year ago I tried a WIX filter on my'09 and they are really good!
a WIX 51143 is a perfect fit, is still in a metal can, and is a high quality filter at a reasonable cost.

HOWEVER, if you still are insisting on a PF-141 you can go to ANY GM dealership and order as many as you like. When Pep Boys stopped carrying PF-141s, I went to my local Buick dealer and started buying them there, 5 at a time.

Now??? WIX is the way to go for me!

Rock :cool:

Rock