1933 model b original spark plugs?

FrankWest

FrankWest

Well-known member
Parts suppliers sell "original style spark plugs" at 35$ each. Were these the type used on the model B engines 1933 or are these only for Model A's?
Are these for show only? Do they function well for performance?
Maybe , I'm getting carried away, or should be? My desire to make my car as original as possible may be the end of me yet......
 
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If you're talking 3x, then you can get them at o'Reillys for around twenty.
Upc# 37551663460 (429 3X)
They do work better then modern replacements, in my opinion, and others as well.
 
hey frank if you are not goring to go for a high point show car i do not think you want $35 3x plugs i have NAPA plugs in my 32 b pick up they are about $3 dollars and do real good
 
The Champion 3X plug was used until fairly late in the '32 model year and was then replaced with the Champion C-4 plug for the duration.
 
The photo below shows both the Champion-Ford and Champion 3X plugs in the upper right hand corner and the Champion-Ford C-4 in the upper left hand corner. The Champion C-4 that is in the lower right hand corner is what your car was originally equipped with. Note the different lengths of the insulators and therefore different heat ranges of the C-4 and 3X plugs. Note also that brass caps over the top of the insulator and that the insulators have only two ribs compared to the post WWII plugs with five-insulators and no brass caps on the top of the insulators.

(Please ignore the plugs in the lower left hand corner of the photo as they were used exclusively on V8s until October, 1932.)
 

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DavidG,
These plugs you show are great reference. I would like to know what plugs I should be running in my engine that was built in Sept of 1932? I don't necessarily need to have "show type" plugs. Just good new plugs. What are my options?

Thanks
 
Robb,

Strictly speaking in terms of authenticity, a four-cylinder engine manufactured in September, 1932 would still be equipped with 3X plugs and a V8 engine built at that time would still have had C-4-X plugs as the changeover to C-4 plugs took place in early October, 1932.

As for your second question, I've had no experience with new substitutes for the old Champion plugs. Hopefully someone else with experience with substitutes will share their experience in this thread.
 
Hi David.
Thanks for getting back. So I would be looking for a set of Champion C-4-X or a comparable substitute for my V8. In your opinion, are these C-4-Xs still around and worthy of chasing down?
 
Robb,

You might get lucky and find a few re-buildable used C-4-X plugs, but my experience has been that it's a tall order. I believe that Ford stopped selling those plugs for service shortly after the C-4 plugs were released. Decades ago when you could find new-in-the-red-and-blue-Ford boxes of plugs labeled C-4-X without breaking the bank in the process, inevitably it was a C-4 plug in the box and not a C-4-X. Three-piece, brass-topped C-4 plugs are your best bet for sticking close to original (if that is your objective) and even those have become increasingly pricey.

Dave
 
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