last post didnt go thru so trying i have a 70 mav with a 85 302 with points igniton pulled plug and they smell like fuel exhaust smells very rich adusted carb and its a little betterplugs are sooty also can they be cleaned and reused or should they be replaced also does anyone have the correct plug gap thanks
You can clean them, if they're new enough to make cleaning worthwhile. Make sure they're dry, even down around the insulator. I just use a paper towel. Spread the gap a little and use a points file (you're running points, you should have a points file) or emory cloth on the top of the center electrode and the ground strap to get nice clean surfaces. Regap the plugs and run 'em. If you have your carb problem straightened out the plugs will burn themselves clean after some driving. If you need to remove carbon, do not use a wire brush. If you have aluminum cylinder heads don't use one of those bead blaster things to clean the plugs.
It is NEVER worthwhile cleaning plugs unless you HAVE to do it to get home so they can be replaced. A set of Autolites will cost you $6 and just to clean, file and gap one plug is worth that in time. I keep a set of cleaned plugs in my trunk for emergencies but I replace my plugs long before they foul out. My wife had this problem with her I-6 when we first got it. After changing plugs three times in a year and a half I switched to a hotter plug and that cured the problem. This after chasing down a fuel problem that turned out to be a bad rebuilt carburetor and a plugged pickup screen in her tank. It was all going on at the same time and With the new designations on these older Fords I didn't realize that her 6 was running the same plugs as my 8 until I tuned them both up - I got her the hotter plugs and no more problems. Paul
