TheSamba.com :: View topic - Engine H

Sat Apr 22, 2017 4:06 pm

I have looked around on here and it looks as thought NGK B5HS is the spark plug to use. Could someone confirm?

Is there a document on this site that lists the engine code/size with the spark plug?

Sat Apr 22, 2017 4:19 pm

the head determines which plug to start with

Sat Apr 22, 2017 4:29 pm

Heads have been changed throughout the years, and it's unlikey that your engine has the original heads anymore. So you have to make sure that you have the correct length plug for your head.

FWIW your new EMPI heads appear to have the 12-14 depth spark plug holes.
I run B6HS on my engine.

Sat Apr 22, 2017 5:04 pm

If it helps, it has Champion J19LM in it now. That is what came in the engine and may or may not be correct.

I believe this is a 1500. It's a single port. It has engine code H.

The EMPI heads I have are for a 1600 I am working on. They will not be going on this engine.

Sat Apr 22, 2017 5:05 pm

mcmscott wrote: the head determines which plug to start with

What information do I get off the heads to determine this?

Sat Apr 22, 2017 5:09 pm

For my 1600 (stock), I run NGK 3419 BR6HIX.

Sat Apr 22, 2017 6:49 pm

How do you figure out what heads take what spark plugs? Are there measurements/chart/etc?

Sat Apr 22, 2017 7:57 pm

new take the short plugs. 1/2" reach, same as stock, i can see that in your pictures of them.
A lot of other heads use 3/4 reach.

Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:23 pm

I know the spark plug length. I am just trying to better understand the kind. I see many different model numbers used here.

How can I find the stock VW recommended one for a 1500?

Sat Apr 22, 2017 8:41 pm

They change the spark plug part numbers around every few years, and if you interchange a OLD number with a new one sometimes the truth gets lost.
I interchanged autolite 425 to the closest other plug, and got a part number, and found the plugs were sold EACH.....well that's odd, I get to the store that has some in stock, and it's in the small-engine section, little picture of a lawnmower on there :lol: Hmmm, maybe that's not what i wanted

Basically you are just looking for a plug that fits and is the right heat range, and whatever brand is your favorite. Bosch w8ac, NGK b5hs
If it's souped up with higher compression ect, maybe go a step colder, b6hs

Sat Apr 22, 2017 9:39 pm

NGK B5HS works, I like the "P" version with the protruded tip, and usually ran the BP5HS until recently, and stepped up to a BP6HS which is a step cooler, and find by reading my plugs that they look exactly as you want them to on my particular engine. Sustained highway or "hot"engines seem to benefit from a cooler plug it seems.

Either way plugs are cheap, throw in a set of B5HS or BP5HS, read some articles on reading plugs, and then yank them out in a couple weeks of driving. If they look good, cool. If they make you nervous ("hey, these don't look like those ones that guy on the internet had" :? ) step up or down a range. I suspect a stock engine wont need much more than a "5" series NGK plug,and NGK is my personal preference.

Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:02 am

The 1969 specs say Bosch W145T1

I'm not sure if they're being made anymore, but the modern equivalents are:
Bosch W8AC
Champion L88A
NGK B5HS

Sun Apr 23, 2017 11:02 am

I use NGK BP5HS. The P, we called it powertip back when I sold NGK, but it is prolonged electrode, get the spark 1.7 mm longer into the combustion chamber, and ignite the fuel a little bit faster. If the 5'er gets white, use 6.

On my old bike, a Kawasaki (K)Z1000A2 from 78 with around 100hp, I can feel the gas response is better with a P-plug, than without. And I have never had a bad plug in my bug after starting using the P-type. Had some problems with dying plugs before.

Sun Apr 23, 2017 11:03 am

I went with the NGK B5HS. When I took the original ones out it has one champion and the other looked BOSCH.