Quick spark plug question for my 1600HF

[Professorgearhead]

Good morning, all. I assumed my '72 1600 would come with the correct plugs, so I just gapped them (they were more open than spec by quite a bit). The car seems to run fine. I just checked and they are, in fact NGK DCPR 7E-N. according to what I read on forums, I should be using NGK DP7ES, or D8EA, or D8EVX. Firstly, how inappropriate are the plugs presently in it, and which of the three suggested plugs is right for my 1600 when I will not track the car and don’t want fouling in traffic (heat range 7?). I’ll be driving in mountainous country in the summer where the temperature is typicall in the high twenties. Thanks for your advice. Cheers.

[1,6 HF]

I'd recommend changing to an equivalent iridium plug; I run Denso IX22, but they're also made by NGK, Bosch and others. Gapping matters little, as the thin wire concentrates the spark. They're nearly impossible to foul.

[bernt]

I should be using NGK DP7ES, or D8EA, or D8EVX.

The standard plug for the 1600 is NGK D8EA (or DR8EA with resistor). D8EVX is basically the same, but with a gold/palladium center electrode. It costs about three times as much. I have no experience with the latter.

For high temperatures or heavy track use, some owners use D9EA. I've seen an old Lancia recommendation to warm up the engine with the hotter (standard) plugs, and only then swap in the D9EA. But I've never heard of anyone using NGK heat range 7 in the 1600. I would not use a hotter plug than the standard - with a colder plug, the worst that can happen is fouling, but with a plug hat is too hot, you can destroy the engine through detonation.

Bernt

[1,6 HF]

I've run NGK heat range 7 on the street for years with no issues. I had fouling issues with 8 -- let alone 9

[Professorgearhead]

Thanks for the advice. Plugs ordered.

[bernt]

I've run NGK heat range 7 on the street for years with no issues. I had fouling issues with 8 -- let alone 9

Interesting! Hadn't heard of that. If I'm not mistaking, your engine is rather far from standard, right? Could it be attributed to that?
I just talked with Paul at Verelancia about an engine newly rebuilt to standard specs, and he is using D8EA in it.

Bernt

[1,6 HF]

Interesting! Hadn't heard of that. If I'm not mistaking, your engine is rather far from standard, right? Could it be attributed to that?
I just talked with Paul at Verelancia about an engine newly rebuilt to standard specs, and he is using D8EA in it.

Bernt

Standard street spec (10.5:1), but it was rather tired at the time (I now run iridium, as I mentioned)

[Old Man Wattsy]

I've run NGK heat range 7 on the street for years with no issues. I had fouling issues with 8 -- let alone 9

My experience was the same with my Solex carbies. I even put in a set of D6EA if I couldn't avoid being caught in Sydney peak hour as they were less likely to foul too much crawling along at 20kmph.
The Webers are going well so I'll order a set of D8EA