Hey Guys,

Went to the part store the other day for some spark plugs and it went like this:

Parts Guy: What do you need?
Jon: Some NGK BR8EQ-14 Spark Plugs
Parts Guy: What kind of car do you have?
Jon: 1984 Mazda Rx7, 1.1L
PG: *looks in computer* then you need some... NGK BR8EQ-14s.
Jon: Yes. Isn't that what I said
PG: Um... maybe.. In any case, they're discontinued
Jon: *surprised* WHAT?
PG: Yeah. The computer says they're discontinued. They're no longer made. The dealership *might* be able to hook you up with some kind of substitute
Jon: Look.. there must be some kind of mistake. NGK is a big company, you have a wall full of their plugs. There are rotary cars still on the road that use these and there are guys on my forum who have bought these this month when taking their cars out of storage
PG: Look kid, I don't know any more than the computer tells me. They're not available. I have a set of Autolites listed that I could special-order for you.. but they're listed for the 1.3L engine
Jon: *holds back his scream* Thank you, no.. It's alright.. I'll... call the dealership I guess...

*leaves*

Damn... I'll have to check NAPA

Jon

 

i got mine from napa. if worse comes to worse then order from NGK i dont think they re disc. if so i will stock up all they have from NAPA. let me know.

 

Should have called NAPA to begin with... We carry like everything from them, and can go by the part number. It might be easier if you used the number that goes with the plugs like 7235 mabye?.. i cant remember off the bat, but if they look it up it'll be right.

 

Thats parts guy didnt sound like your typical helpful parts guy. He must of had something stuck up his butt.

 

There's where you made the mistake. You already knew what part you needed, yet you still answer the mindless parts guy's question about what type of car.

I use Denso spark plugs in mine.

 

***ATTENTION****

Whenever you go to a parts store ie. Pep Boys, Autozone etc. Just ask for

***NGK STOCK # 2329 ***




-Ryan

 

#4221!

(NGK BR8ET's. From the '80. Will require special socket for '81-up housings. Much nicer plug design, though)

 

****!!! Gotta call into work today... Rent truck... Pay off credit card and buy several thousand worh in spark plugs!!!

OUTTA MY WAY *************!!! This is a life or death situation!

< /panic >

On second thought...

< resume panic >

 

Back in the 80's we used to grind the rotor housings around the spark plug holes to fit them.

 

I eventually just started using cut down Autoline 3923's. You HAVE to convert them to side gap for them to work, but it is SO nice to have 5/8" hex. They seem to last a good long while too. And only 99 cents each.

 

According to a very reliable source (NGK HQ)..They have over 8,000 on stock, another 5,000 on order with no 'stop' orders in the system. They are still manufactured and very much available.

 

AFAIK Autozone doesn't carry the BR8's, but they are NOT discontinued. U can order from Napa, Pepboys, online at sparkplugs.com, mazdatrix.com, rx7.com, on and on...

 

Worst case, get the NGK BUR plugs for the 2nd gen. I like them a bit better myself....

 

Where I'd get my plugs, they stopped stocking them. I'd just go in a week in advance and ask 'em to order them for me, and they'd come in in a few days.

 

Yeah I *expected* them to not be in stock. Everything else for my car that I've ordered at CT wasn't in stock and had to be ordered. That's why I went to the parts counter instead of the big honkin' rack of spark plugs they have two aisles down. I knew they wouldn't be there.

I figured he could order them. I mean if he can order calipers and bearings for my car, why not spark plugs? God knows that there are enough 7s on the road that if there's a demand for bearings there's gotta be a demand for sparkplugs!

Jon

 

Scarily enoughm the cheapest place I've found around here is my local dealership.
They always keep them in stock...

 

I think i know where the missing spark plugs went!

 

My local Canuck Tire store stopped carrying the plugs YEARS AGO. Same goes for the PartSource guys. All I do is go to the dealer, they always have the plugs in stock.

PS: You have a PM from me.

 

Yeah, I just quit Checker Auto recently, and they show up as discontinued in the system.

Ehh, I'm using TII leading and trailing plugs anyways.

 

we have these instock, the problem with some parts stores is that they went to an automated system and its only listed by the car and engine so they are not needing specialized help to sell the parts. we avdise only using ngk and if they don't know what that is or don't carry it then run as fast as you can!

 

Quick... Hook up a coil.