I believe it was in the late 50's that they stopped using Autolite
Don
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rollin Bard" <Rollin.Bard@xxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 12:36 PM
Subject: RE: IML: Champion vs. Autolite -- "inside" info
> Does anyone remember when Chrysler quit using Autolites as OEM and started
> using Champions? Was it when Ford bought Autolite (US Gov't made them
sell
> it later)
>
> I remember as a Chrysler Plymouth Imperial dealer, that after smog control
> was made standard in the 70's, everyday I used to move our new cars off
the
> display lot and move them inside the building. After about a week of
this,
> the Champions would foul up and the car would start to miss. We would have
> to remove and clean them. This also happened to customers and we would
> complain to the Champion salesman. Once he took 16 of them to send back
to
> the factory. We never heard, in fact he stopped coming around. Champions
> were indeed junk and MoPars were no better since they were probably made
by
> Champion. Now I wonder if we had tried AutoLites, our problems would have
> been over.
>
> Rollin Bard
> '66 LeBaron
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Don Nonnweiler [mailto:dnonnwei@xxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2003 11:50 AM
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: IML: Champion vs. Autolite -- "inside" info
>
> 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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