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billybronco1

Well-known member
My 36 runs very rich, carb has been replaced and adjusted more than once. Current plugs are Autolite 388 and by what I have read that is a pretty hot plug. Plugs are black as well as the tail pipe, no smoke. I see a lot of people use the 216 or 386. Should I stick with what I have or try something else? What do you use "Autolite users only please" not to confuse the matter.
 
I use Autolite 216 in my 8BA 276" engine with a Rochester 2G carb. My plugs show a medium brown color. I'm unsure how much effect the rest of the ignition system has on the plug color. Dirty points and plug wires with high resistance could affect plugs.
 
I run 386's on the Early engines with the 18MM thread size with ZERO issues. On a stock engine, a 388 Autolite should perform fine as well although it is supposedly a heat ranger hotter than should be run... or so I'm told

Also, in recent years I only run autolites of NGK
 
what carb do you have on your 36? Stromberg or Ford 94 type? I use and recommend auto lite 216. power valve can be leaking in a 94 and cause this problem
 
I don't know I just bought the car and I'm trying to figure out all these things out is it on the carburetor itself? Also I like to determine the engine model which has been replaced.
 
There is an article on ID engines, I'll have to try and find it. Evolution of the Flathead is a good article, but my copy is like 3.4 Mb and too large to load.
 

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billybronco1 said:
My 36 runs very rich, carb has been replaced and adjusted more than once. Current plugs are Autolite 388 and by what I have read that is a pretty hot plug. Plugs are black as well as the tail pipe, no smoke. I see a lot of people use the 216 or 386. Should I stick with what I have or try something else? What do you use "Autolite users only please" not to confuse the matter.
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Don't understand why you are trying to correct a richness problem by changing spark plugs.
To me the most obvious thing to do is to address carburetor jetting, etc.
And it could be something as simple as a clogged air cleaner.
 
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I'm sure that will be a discussion for a later date, I have many things to sort out before I address that. I was just curious what others were using for plugs, I didn't read many using the 388.
 
alanwoodieman said:
what carb do you have on your 36? Stromberg or Ford 94 type? I use and recommend auto lite 216. power valve can be leaking in a 94 and cause this problem
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alanwoodieman,

I'm not sure what carb this is, I can't find any markings on it.
 

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Stromberg carb, so I would think too large jets, back up and take a picture of the engine head. take the air cleaner off and make sure it is not clogged up, It appears to be a dry type and the "cleaner" part of the air cleaner is a wrapped up bunch of fiber mesh just under the top cover ,remove wing nut and take it off and then remove this and see if the richness goes away
 
IMO you need to pull the carb and send it to one of the rebuilders here on the Barn and have it checked out/setup. Running a engine with a very rich mixture and lead to premature ware on the cylinder walls and rings. A carb fix is way cheaper and easier than a rebuild. The early repo carbs have known fuel leakage issues. In fact, it is my understanding that the really early ones can not be repaired (for a reasonable price) and you are better off with a new/rebuilt one.
 
JSeery said:
IMO you need to pull the carb and send it to one of the rebuilders here on the Barn and have it checked out/setup. Running a engine with a very rich mixture and lead to premature ware on the cylinder walls and rings. A carb fix is way cheaper and easier than a rebuild. The early repo carbs have known fuel leakage issues. In fact, it is my understanding that the really early ones can not be repaired (for a reasonable price) and you are better off with a new/rebuilt one.
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Although rebuilding is a good idea (if needed), that is not going to resolve any jetting issues which may be the only problem.
 
drolston said:
Wait, wait! Did these two plugs come out of the same engine at the same time? If so, the problem is not the carb.
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Before you can make a blanket statement like that, don't we have to know what cylinders they came out of? If they came out of cylinders serviced by the same side of the carburetor, you are probably right, but if they are serviced by different sides, it is possible that one side (barrel) of the carburetor may be functioning properly and the other side is not.
 
I did not keep track of there position I will get new plugs after I deal with some other issues and monitor more closely. I agree that one is worse than the other. I will check to see I have three others that are really black.
 
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