383 Magnum Spark Plugs look horrible

tommytunes · Feb 19, 2020

First off Autolite in a Mopar !!!! Put in a set of NGK plugs to resolve the plug issue. Oil around the threads could be from leaking valve covers causing some puddling around the plugs. How old is the fuel in the tank ? Do the basics fresh fuel 93 or AV gas with dry gas and an additive if you don't want to drain flush the tank. New gas filter , cap , wires , rotor and have the carb rebuilt by a pro. Cheap way to start.
Steering gear can be rebuilt ( had mine done ) change out hoses. Lucas PS sealer works well for small leaks rather than PS fluid. Looks like a lot of work but for starters not a whole lot of $$$. Good Luck !
Nice car, looks like we built @ Lynch Road, worked there from 70 - 81 closing.
PS drive it, starting isn't enough.

tommytunes · Feb 19, 2020

Sorry I missed the part where the column is disconnected.

joemish · Feb 19, 2020

MoparGuy68 said:
I just pulled 4 of the spark plugs out of the driver side head of my Charger's 383. They look like they are as old as the car!! I read them as saying this engine is running way too rich and is sick! Looks like there is oil on the threads too. They look terrible.. One of them smelled like gas. Only thing maybe good about them is the electrode and ground straps have no wear. Autolite 85 stamped "made in USA" (maybe 49 years ago).

The carb is a Holley 750cfm 4160 dual feed, vacuum secondary, electric choke. Have had this car for 2 months. Carb smells like gas, kinds stinks up the garage if the car has been shut up in there all day. I've been starting it up and running it till warmed up once a week since I've had it. Has only been driven one time, around the block twice with PS pump disconnected, which was about 2 weeks ago.

In mid December, I ended up flooding the engine badly, when I couldn't get the car started (pumping gas and cranking 25 or 30 times). Which was due to an electrical issue, that I fixed that same day. When it did start that day, it ran incredibly rough. Was misfiring due to the flooding. So rough I thought it was going to shake the car apart. Then eventually it smoothed out.

The charging system doesn't currently work in this car and hasn't for a long time. Engine marks its territory on the ground, it leaks oil.. I think the valve covers may be leaking, maybe the rear main crankshaft seal, maybe other places too. But the amount of oil leakage is minor compared to the massive steering box leakage.

Miraculously the engine does not smoke! I never see any smoke coming out of the tail pipes.. From the look of the plugs, you'd think it should be emitting a huge cloud of blue smoke out of the machine gun tips.

The plugs looks like they came out of a junk yard car. These are the most ancient looking plugs I've ever pulled out of an engine. I should have pulled a couple out and looked at them before I bought the car.. Note to self on that.. What do you guys think of these sorry looking plugs pulled from this sick Super Bee?

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I think I found your problem, they are Autolites...
On a serious note it looks like youre running a little Rich. Do the 4 corner adjustment on the carb. old saying is turn in then back out 1-1/2 turns, but that is too rich. Turn your adjustment screws all the way in softly, then back of 3/4 of a turn on all 4 corners and you should solve your smelly problem and the color of the plugs after pulling them. Good Ole Champions work just fine you don't need NGK or any other high dollar plug.

Alan Fiandaca · Feb 20, 2020

Remember, if it has ever backfired thru the carb, it probably blew the power valve in that Holley which will make it run rich all the time no matter where you set the mixture screws. Easy to tell if the power valve is bad, if you get no difference in idle when you screw the mixture screws all the way in. By the way, I'm down here in Tucson

Slap Stick · Feb 25, 2020

Nothing wrong with Autolite spark plugs.
People think they are still made by Ford and even then it didn't make one bit of difference.
I run Autolite 3923s in my Dakota and they burn perfect and last a long time.
What I have had problems with are Champions.
We used to call NGK No Good Kind.

383 Magnum Spark Plugs look horrible

tommytunes

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tommytunes

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joemish

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Alan Fiandaca

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Slap Stick

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