I humbly disagree on the quality of AC plugs as I have had nothing but
problems with them even in GM products, I know a few mechanics that will
only use Autolites, maybe Champions if they have no choice but never AC as
they don't last. I agree the Autolites are the best but can not in good
conscience ever reccommend or use AC's. I do have 32 years in the auto
industry
Don
59 Crown
55 C300
55 NY
49 NY
40 P10
----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Engel" <peter.engel@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 10:42 AM
Subject: IML: Champion vs. Autolite -- "inside" info
> So I'm reading posts from another list I'm on and I see the following
> write-up. I'm convinced. Well actually I was convinced before reading
> this.
>
> Ron Fenelon wrote:
>
> When I first started working at Ford in 1965, I was a "dyed in the wool"
> Champion Spark Plug guy. A couple of years later, I had the opportunity
> to visit the Fostoria, OH plant where we made Autolite spark plugs.
> Once I saw the difference in the manufacturing process and the sealing
> method vs. what Champion does, never again did I use anything but a
> Autolite/Motorcraft spark plugs. On the GM cars that I have owned in
> the past, I always used AC spark Plugs, because they were made the same
> way as the Autolite/Motorcraft's were made.
>
> The principal difference is how the center electrode/porcelain insulator
> is sealed to the steel outer body. In Champion plugs, the outer body is
> zinc plated, and they stuff a powdered form of the center insulator
> between the body and the fired center insulator, and then roll
> over/crimp the upper portion of the steel body. Very easy to allow
> combustion pressures/gases to make a leakage path in this powder
> material. In fact, I asked TV Tommy Ivo, at the Milan, Mi Drag Way, why
> he had changed from Champions to Autolites, in the early 70"s, and he
> replied too many center electrode/porcelain bodies blowing right out of
> the threaded bodies on his AA Fuel Hemi powered Dragster.
>
> The Autolite/Motorcrafts and AC plugs have two copper o-rings installed
> between the center electrode/porcelain bodies, top and bottom, and then
> the top of the body is rolled over/crimped, and then the plug passes
> into an Induction Heater where the center portion of the plug is heated
> up by a ring in the center of the steel body until it glows red, about
> 1600 degress F, all while the crimp is held under 2500 psi pressure, and
> then the Induction heater coil is turned off, and plug cools under this
> 2500 psi pressure. So the center electrode assembly is firmly gripped
> by the outer body, and I don't remember anyone saying they ever had any
> leakage problems with plugs made that way. That heating process is the
> reason Autolite/Motorcraft and AC plug metal bodies are not plated.
> They may be painted, like the marine plugs are, but never plated. It
> would boil off in the Induction Heating/Crimping process.
>
> Make better way to seal the center electrode assemblies, and make long
> life spark plugs.
>
>
>
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