'83 Ram Slant 6 spark plug type

Hello all, quick question. I purchased some spark plugs at the local store
and they gave me Champion RV17YC, which is what their computer reccomended.
However when I got home and checked the emissions sticker on the truck it
stated Champion RBL16Y. Can I use the RV17YC's on this or do I need to get
the right plug? They look to be identical in size.(1983 Dodge Ram Slant 6,
converted from Lean Burn to Electronic Ignition.

Thanks for your help

Nick

Remove number one when replying by electronic mail

 

WRONGO, that plug is too hot and will exacerbate this engine's already
high tendency to ping.

Champion has gone consolidation-crazy over the last five to eight years,
deleting plugs from their line left and right. This isn't because there's
been some magical development in spark plugs that widens the heat range.
It's because it's cheaper to have fewer plugs in a line than it is to have
more plugs in a line. This is what happens when MBAs, rather than
engineers, run auto parts companies.

Even these are unnecessarily hot on today's gasolines, which are much
easier on spark plugs from a fouling perspective than were the gasolines
of 22 years ago. You can go a range or even two ranges cooler and get some
relief from pinging (which in turn can allow the disconnection of EGR
and/or advancement of the ignition timing for improved driveability and
mileage) without fear of pinging on today's cleaner-burning gasolines.

All my annotated spark plug books are at the office; tomorrow I'll dig up
my notes on plugs for '75-'87 slant-6s with the taper-seat spark plugs.
There are a few specific ones that work better than others, regardless of
brand selection. I do not recommend you use the RV17YCs. (Yes, they are
physically identical. No, that does not mean they're the same.)

www.slantsix.org is a good place to hang out...

DS

 

FWIW, I believe that the primary way the heat range is tweaked on a plug
design is in the amount of depth of the recess between thread body and
insulator, effectively shortening or lengthening the heat path from the
plug's tip to the cylinder head (big freaking heat sink). Since this
detail is virtualy invisible to the casual observer, otherwise identical
plugs by the same manufacturer but of different heat ranges can appear
to be identical.

Bill Putney
(to reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with "x")

 

Yep, exactly. Good catch. What I intended was that they *appear*
physically identical, and are physically interchangeable (same thread,
same seat, etc.) but are not the same.

DS

 

See if you can find Autolite 25s.

DS

 

I've always used 14s, except on my modified engines where I used 3s

 

Thanks for all the input everyone! I already ran the truck with the
RV17YC's, and it seemed to run very well (no pinging, smooth
acceleration, smooth cruising), but I will check into the Autolite 25's.

On another note, I had posted to this newsgroup a few months ago about a
2 barrel conversion for this truck. I went to the '04 Mopar Nationals in
Columbus, OH and found a "Super Six" cast iron 2bbl intake/exhaust
manifold, carb, all the choke parts, kickdown linkage (although I do not
need it)and breather in one package. So I will begin swapping those
items in (after I clean them up) and I will post my results to the group.

Thanks again for all the help!!