I've recently taken to restoring an 87 GXL thats been sitting under a tree for 3 years. I've gotten it up and running (finally) but i checked the spark plugs that are in there today and both bottom spark plugs are usless, the center of both is worn down to nothing! I know there old but is this a common thing to happen? and could this be causing my utter lack of low end power?

 

Yes and yes. These engines are hard on plugs... they don't last very long before they eat the center electrode, usually 20,000 miles at best.

The car will make regain lost power, start easier, and flood less with new lower (leading) plugs.

NGK BUR7EQ are the plug's you'll want... $6-7 a piece, don't bother buying the platinums.

 

thanks for the answer, does anyone know where i could pick up a set of those plugs? i live in hawaii and these plugs arn't exatcly commen place around here, let alone anything else for my car. down here the internet is my best friend, minus shipping of coarse.

 

hmm, u have a pepboys or advance autoparts in HI ?

 

hey buddy. all the checkers have them there.

 

Ahhh...you weren't calling around huh?
Call Checkers in Salt Lake and Redline. They have them.

 

no pep boys, advance autoparts, or checkers. we've got a napa but thats a no go, theres only a handfull of rx's on the island and only one shop (2 hours away) thats willing to TOUCH the thing. I just called the mazda dealership, $87.50 plus shipping and a 7-10 day wait. gotta love the tropic huh?

 

87 bucks for sparkplugs?

 

30 seconds of google.

http://www.maximumautoparts.com/MA_S...002_items.html

 

free shipping gotta love that
and you would think if the internet is his best friend in hawaii he would know how to use Google ort any search engine for that matter
and im guess the only shop thats willing to touch it is the FC3Spro.com shop ?

 

no checkers? when your thingy says hawaii, do you mean you're on the big island? there are checkers all over oahu and i can go and find you like 20 FC's around.

 

In the past I've ordered plugs online from:
http://www.sparkplugs.com/

I have no clue how long the wait for shipping will be... Good luck on your quest.

 

i just replaced mine last month, got them from napa down on sand island access road. you on oahu?

 

i'm on the big island, oahu would be nice though

 

Heck, I have plenty of used ones in good shape I would give you free (if you want to pay for shipping).
I have found that the Autolites never wear out...at any mileage, but I cannot say if they are as good as the NGK...
I have went between both back to back and could never tell a difference myself.
Anyway, I am sure I have several sets of both where I prematurely changed the plugs, and the old NGK's still had 80-90% of the electrode left...and nearly no visable wear on Autolites.

 

you will be able to tell the difference when an electrode arm comes off and takes a trip through your engine. i have seen this with bosch +4 platinum plugs but i have seen autolites cause alot of driveability problems on piston engines. i just go with what the manufacturer suggests, in most cases asian makes call for NGK so i stick with that. so far that i know of no manufacturer supports the use of autolites.