After all this, I've ALMOST got this 440 dialed in...need advice again!

[moparedtn]

https://www.ngksparkplugs.com/about-ngk/spark-plug-101

http://www.dragstuff.com/techarticles/how-to-read-plugs.html

There is no change of color on the strap,you might be a tad lean which might have caused that misfire.

The ground straps are sorta smoky grayish. Lousy pic.
A tad lean you say? You can't imagine how happy that makes me.
Well, maybe you can. Here's the last set I pulled before I found the ignition problem:

I'd call that progress.
Did you watch the video? How did the engine sound to you?

 

[1967coronet]

Sounds very good Ed, A step colder on the plug may bring in some color without doing the carb tango again , But yep they look a little clean / lean to me also.
Your really close.

 

[moparedtn]

https://www.ngksparkplugs.com/about-ngk/spark-plug-101

http://www.dragstuff.com/techarticles/how-to-read-plugs.html

There is no change of color on the strap,you might be a tad lean which might have caused that misfire.

Sounds very good Ed, A step colder on the plug may bring in some color without doing the carb tango again , But yep they look a little clean / lean to me also.
Your really close.

Thanks!
Yeah, probably. They're brand new, too, maybe have like 25 miles on them.

Oh, BTW - the part where I say "HOLY..." a couple times was due to the fact the car really started coming on in 4th when I stayed in it - I felt it at first, only paying attention to the tach, but when I looked at the speedo I was like .
Heck, the darn thing doesn't ACT like the carb is too small, least not to 100...
finding and fixing that ballast thing and getting some damn SPARK to the plugs really works well with the richened up Eddy, seems like.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Did you click the ignition of at the top of high gear??If not your get a tainted reading!

 

[moparedtn]

Did you click the ignition of at the top of high gear??If not your get a tainted reading!

 

[Bigal75]

He's right. That's how you check.

 

[moparedtn]

Well, I did the all-out run in the video, followed by the nerve-wracking burnout, followed by the half mile drive to the house, where I yanked the plugs pictured.
Reckon that's about as good as I can do, short of taking it to a track.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

Sound like a street beast! I might suggest you find an open road where you can run it hard up through high gear. At 5500 flip the key off and glide to the side of the road. Bring some extra spark plugs with you even if they are old used ones.You will have to wait a while to let it cool down some then pull as many spark plugs as you can without melting your fingers off and throw the used ones in. Take pictures of the tip of the plugs and post 'em up.
Plug readings tell a story. Timing,jetting and plug heat range can be seen.You can google spark plug reading and get an idea what I'm talking about.I recently installed a data logger but I'm still reading plugs until I get comfy with the logger.

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You didn't listen.Click the engine OFF while at full throttle in the high gear at your upper RPM range.Put trans in "N" and just let the car glide to a stop,that will help cool yer **** down so you can pull a few plugs.
That is the only way to get an accurate plug reading.

 

[Bigal75]

Yep. I have a secluded area I go to and do a wot then key off and coast in neutral to the side of the road. Pull a couple of plugs swap in another set and head home for analysis. It's a pain but the best way to get a true reading. The heat from the wot burns off all the excess carbon on the plug. You can also use a wbo2 sensor to get you close. It's all fun.

 

[1967coronet]

Thanks!
Yeah, probably. They're brand new, too, maybe have like 25 miles on them.

Oh, BTW - the part where I say "HOLY..." a couple times was due to the fact the car really started coming on in 4th when I stayed in it - I felt it at first, only paying attention to the tach, but when I looked at the speedo I was like .
Heck, the darn thing doesn't ACT like the carb is too small, least not to 100...
finding and fixing that ballast thing and getting some damn SPARK to the plugs really works well with the richened up Eddy, seems like.

Ed, I thought mabey the {HOLY....} was due to a unheard request from the navigator holding the cast iron skillet.

 

[moparedtn]

You didn't listen.Click the engine OFF while at full throttle in the high gear at your upper RPM range.Put trans in "N" and just let the car glide to a stop,that will help cool yer **** down so you can pull a few plugs.
That is the only way to get an accurate plug reading.

I "heard" ya. What you don't understand is there's really no place around here where I can both accomplish the full blast run (without accompanying constable escort to the nearest hoosegow, anyways) that also has a safe place to get off the road and do any wrenching.
This here's mountainous country roads, man. No race track within hours, either.
I did the best with what I got to work with.

 

[moparedtn]

Ed, I thought mabey the {HOLY....} was due to a unheard request from the navigator holding the cast iron skillet.

Bless her heart, she's tougher than most of the female persuasion when it comes to hanging in there with me during "stunt driving".
I did get a kick out of the way the camera bobs at every shift, though.

If I'm being honest, the first "holy!..." came when the car started deciding where it was going to go as the nose got light, as opposed to where I was REQUESTING it go via steering input.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

I think with a stick you could go to the top of 3rd. I'm lucky to have a concreate 6 lane road 1/2 mile from the garage where I can test high gear,,,,,,,,forget about 1st!!

 

[moparedtn]

I think with a stick you could go to the top of 3rd. I'm lucky to have a concreate 6 lane road 1/2 mile from the garage where I can test high gear,,,,,,,,forget about 1st!!

Yeah, that 4 lane you see in the video is only about a mile and a half from the house, so I just figured "close enough" - especially with that cheesy burnout tossed in after the full boogy run.

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

In the street,I can't get any traction in 1st.When I get into 2nd I can roll into it quick enough to be at WOT before I push the 3rd button.Than I can get a full throttle recording. No side streets where a someons can pull out into the lanes,I'm rolling at 140+ MPH,,,,,,,,,,

 

[moparedtn]

In the street,I can't get any traction in 1st.When I get into 2nd I can roll into it quick enough to be at WOT before I push the 3rd button.Than I can get a full throttle recording. No side streets where a someons can pull out into the lanes,I'm rolling at 140+ MPH,,,,,,,,,,

[sarcasm]
Oh dear. It must be a burden to own such a car.
[/sarcasm]
I reckon this tired old 440 isn't probably making even 400hp, so I don't have such "burdens" especially with 3.55's - but then, I haven't gone hog wild on a launch yet, either.
Yes, I'm skeered to break something. I admit it.
As the car proves itself actually reliable, I'll gain confidence in it and soon will probably be doing silly things with it.
Remember, this thing is a Frankenstein of epic proportions and this is the first time it's been on the road in many, many years in any configuration.

 

[David Hunt]

Excuse me but those plugs look rich fuel to me. Why black soot.?

 

[HEMI-ITIS]

They were not read st full throttle.

 

[moparedtn]

Excuse me but those plugs look rich fuel to me. Why black soot.?

Which picture are you looking at?
There's two. Look again.
One pic shows the improved situation I have now, where the plugs look great - those are in post #38.
The other pic shows what the last set of plugs looked like, which were jet black and fuel fouled - those are in post #41.

 

[moparedtn]

They were not read st full throttle.

Sigh. Yes they were, as I explained...at least as close as I could manage.
I think he's talking about the "before" pic I also put up here - those are certainly fouled.