Spark plugs for R1

[63stick]

Any recommendations for spark plugs for my R1. Some brands seem to perform better than others.

[mfg]

20 minutes ago, 63stick said:

Any recommendations for spark plugs for my R1. Some brands seem to perform better than others.

The Champion RJ12-Y’s I installed in my ‘63 R2 seem to go on forever!

[63stick]

The R2 takes different plugs though. I talked with Jon Meyer the other day and I think he said HR5. Unfortunately the piece of paper I wrote it on got brake cleaner on it and no more writing. I hate to call him back up.

[mfg]

12 hours ago, 63stick said:

The R2 takes different plugs though. I talked with Jon Meyer the other day and I think he said HR5. Unfortunately the piece of paper I wrote it on got brake cleaner on it and no more writing. I hate to call him back up.

Yes you are right… but at this point in time the J12Y’s seem to be a reliable, easily found, universal fit…. (If there actually is such a thing!)

And, I’m my opinion, this plug also works well on ‘non-R’ Studebaker V8’s!

Edited June 27 by mfg
Added text

[Dwight FitzSimons]

IIRC Champion J12Y plugs were specified by Studebaker for both R1s and R2s.  The modern number might be RJ12YC.

H14Y plugs were spec'd for 259 & 289 engines

J10Y plugs were used on R3s (J10Y are colder than J12Y)

This is IIRC, so someone correct me.

--Dwight

P.S., Autolite 437 & Bosch 7517 have also been recommended previously on the SDC Forum

 

[mfg]

33 minutes ago, Dwight FitzSimons said:

IIRC Champion J12Y plugs were specified by Studebaker for both R1s and R2s.  The modern number might be RJ12YC.

H14Y plugs were spec'd for 259 & 289 engines

J10Y plugs were used on R3s (J10Y are colder than J12Y)

This is IIRC, so someone correct me.

--Dwight

P.S., Autolite 437 & Bosch 7517 have also been recommended previously on the SDC Forum

 

That sounds right Dwight… but try to find H14Y’s (a Champion plug I always liked) at your local FLAPS quick & in a hurry!!!

[tanda62]

Here is another option for R1 plugs.

https://www.ngk.com/ngk-4536-xr45-v-power-spark-plug

 

[brad]

I use Autolite Platinum AP85. Champions are now China sourced, and quality is non-existent. 

[DWR46]

Brad put the Autolites in my R3 motor, and they work fantastic. I have used NGK plugs for over 50 years, but have now used Autolites in three other cars and am impressed with them. Also, counterfeit NGK's are flooding the market and it seems lately, many NGK plugs are almost impossible to source. If people want to use Champions, that is fine, but in the 1970s and 1980s, at all the USAC races, there was always a Champion "rep" giving away plugs to all the racers. We finally figured out whey he was giving them away, nobody would actually spend money to buy them!

[mfg]

When it comes to spark plugs…. To each his own I guess!!!!

[Dwight FitzSimons]

22 hours ago, tanda62 said:

Here is another option for R1 plugs.

https://www.ngk.com/ngk-4536-xr45-v-power-spark-plug

 

Unfortunately, these are on "National back order."

[Dwight FitzSimons]

15 hours ago, brad said:

I use Autolite Platinum AP85. Champions are now China sourced, and quality is non-existent. 

These are what I'll use on my R3.  Thanks for the recommendation.

--Dwight

[mfg]

19 hours ago, brad said:

I use Autolite Platinum AP85. Champions are now China sourced, and quality is non-existent. 

The quality of Chinese products has improved tremendously over the past couple decades…. That’s why America is now playing ‘catch up’ …..Just sayin’

[63stick]

Thank you for the input. I just bought a set of NOS xr45s and a set of ap85s. For the price, what the heck.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

So, Autolite Platinum AP85 plugs would be appropriate for both an R1 and an R3???  I ask because I have both an R1 and an R3 which both need new plugs.  Thanks in advance.

--Dwight

[mfg]

6 hours ago, Dwight FitzSimons said:

So, Autolite Platinum AP85 plugs would be appropriate for both an R1 and an R3???  I ask because I have both an R1 and an R3 which both need new plugs.  Thanks in advance.

--Dwight

Actually, it all depends on how you drive the cars… for ‘moderate’ operation it probably makes no difference.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

Yes, it's true that 99% of the time I'll drive my R1 and R3 Avantis exactly the same.  The only factor that might play in here is that R3s burn oil like you wouldn't believe (due to the much larger clearances): ~300 miles/quart.  So, I might need a hotter plug just for that reason.  Time will tell.

--Dwight

[mfg]

36 minutes ago, Dwight FitzSimons said:

Yes, it's true that 99% of the time I'll drive my R1 and R3 Avantis exactly the same.  The only factor that might play in here is that R3s burn oil like you wouldn't believe (due to the much larger clearances): ~300 miles/quart.  So, I might need a hotter plug just for that reason.  Time will tell.

--That’s a very interesting observation concerning excessive oil consumption in an Avanti R3 engine.

[Dwight FitzSimons]

2 hours ago, mfg said:

3 hours ago, Dwight FitzSimons said:

Yes, it's true that 99% of the time I'll drive my R1 and R3 Avantis exactly the same.  The only factor that might play in here is that R3s burn oil like you wouldn't believe (due to the much larger clearances): ~300 miles/quart.  So, I might need a hotter plug just for that reason.  Time will tell.

--That’s a very interesting observation concerning excessive oil consumption in an Avanti R3 engine.

It's my experience, with both the new R3 (B86) I owned back in the late 1960s and the one I own now (B69).

With B86 in the late 1960s I could drive through a small town (no other traffic, buildings on either side reflecting sound) and, with quiet mufflers, hear piston slap.

It's well known that R3 engines burn oil.   My B69 has gapless rings to hopefully reduce some of that oil consumption.

With the current disassembly (at an engine builder) of B69 I am hoping to keep the original pistons (ForgedTrue, IIRC), but we'll see.  If I have to buy new pistons we may be able to go with somewhat tighter piston-to-wall clearances.  Might be able to get that oil consumption up to 500 miles/quart!

--Dwight

Edited Wednesday at 12:06 AM by Dwight FitzSimons