Which Spark Plug? 1985 2001 Ski Nautique
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=21705
Printed Date: November-14-2024 at 11:25pm
Topic: Which Spark Plug? 1985 2001 Ski Nautique
Posted By: iplan
Subject: Which Spark Plug? 1985 2001 Ski Nautique
Date Posted: May-13-2011 at 3:56pm
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This is a terrible post I know, but for some reason I'm under the impression that I could use a choice of 2 spark plugs for my 2001 SN (351)..... This does not sound right to me, and for that matter I can't remember the plug I'm supposed to use.
Can someone provide and informational tow/rescue service? |
Replies:
Posted By: kapla
Date Posted: May-13-2011 at 4:21pm
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autolites 24 if you have std heads
autolites 764 if you have replaced the heads over to a gt40 or gt40p.... ------------- <a href="">1992 ski nautique |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: May-13-2011 at 4:25pm
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I think this is what you want, Autolite 24:
http://www.skidim.com/prodinfo.asp?number=RP030002 - Autolite 24s on Ski Dim Other brands make essentially the same plug to, hence possible confusion. |
Posted By: iplan
Date Posted: May-14-2011 at 12:01pm
| Thanks! 24s ! |
Posted By: Morfoot
Date Posted: May-14-2011 at 12:21pm
Or you can run down to NAPA, Advance, O'Reillys or any where local and pick them up. The gap is .040 which I believe is set but the Doc told me just the other day to set the gap @ .055(?) if your running and electronic ignition instead of points. Of course he told this AFTER I changed them all.  ------------- "Morfoot; He can ski. He can wakeboard.He can cook chicken.He can create his own self-named beverage, & can also apparently fly. A man of many talents."72 Mustang "Kermit",88 SN Miss Scarlett, 99 SN "Sherman" |
Bri892001 wrote:Posted By: iplan
Date Posted: May-14-2011 at 4:27pm
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I went to Advanced, got the 24s and installed them w/ the .040 gap (factory).... took it out on the lake, and it ran fine....
BTW, how often do you guys change your points? |
Posted By: 88 S NAUTIQUE
Date Posted: May-14-2011 at 6:01pm
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I just changed the points, plugs, cap, rotor, and wires. Planning on changing plugs every couple of years and I think the points every 5 years. I don't know for sure yet, just bought the boat last year ------------- Steve http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=5247" rel="nofollow - 1988SkiNautique |
Posted By: horkn
Date Posted: May-14-2011 at 9:10pm
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I've run ngk's, bosch, autolites, and a few others with absolutely no problems. Platinum,copper double platinum all worked fine. Get out the cross reference chart and go crazy. LOL I'm running the 764's right now but I was running ngk v powers on the old heads. Yes,you can gap them much wider with EI. ------------- 78 martinique- refloored, reinforced, stringers re glassed, re engineered interior GT40P heads Edelbrock Performer intake acme 4 blade http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v64/horkn/fish/nautique.jpg |
Posted By: merbesfield
Date Posted: May-16-2011 at 12:19am
| My 1986 2001 has NGKBPR6FS plugs installed by PO. Are these correct for a 351? |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: May-16-2011 at 12:55pm
You'd have to cross reference them to see if they're for the same application as the Autolite 24s. I tried to cross reference them on google and couldn't find the part. |
Posted By: TheChad1976
Date Posted: May-16-2011 at 2:27pm
| I was told by a guy that knows these boats very well, never to run an NGK plug in a Ford motor. I have an 87 with 351. |
Posted By: merbesfield
Date Posted: May-16-2011 at 9:53pm
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My boat runs well with the BPR6FS plugs but if I had to bet money, I would not be surprised to find out that the local mechanic, aka, idiot, used the wrong plugs. I will try to find a cross reference.
Edit, I just looked and my boat is a 1984, not 86, if that makes a difference, which I am sure it does. |
Posted By: skicat2001
Date Posted: May-17-2011 at 4:55pm
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I just had a tune up and the tech used autolite 24's. ------------- 1985 CC 2001-SOLD Lee Michael Johnson |
Posted By: horkn
Date Posted: May-18-2011 at 2:03am
Was this guy Henry Ford's brothers second cousins sister uncle? 
In all seriousness, ngk's, as well as pretty much any sparkplug (even delco) will work just fine. My boat ran fine on ngk's for years. ------------- 78 martinique- refloored, reinforced, stringers re glassed, re engineered interior GT40P heads Edelbrock Performer intake acme 4 blade http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v64/horkn/fish/nautique.jpg |
Posted By: merbesfield
Date Posted: May-18-2011 at 10:55pm
| Can someone tell me the proper gap for the 24's? |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: May-19-2011 at 12:12am
According to SkiDim it's .035 for any engine with a Mallory or Prestolite ignition. It would be .045 for a Protech Equipped boat. Obviously, if you have ignition mods, that could potentially change things as well. |
Posted By: ffhd1clt
Date Posted: July-18-2011 at 5:56pm
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Change them out. NGK's are great for jet ski's, etc., but nothing works better than Autolites in those Ford engines. I have 1300 hours on mine, and the Autolites look like new. ------------- Frankie @ LKN |
Posted By: slalomjunky
Date Posted: July-18-2011 at 10:19pm
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I have a 94 196 and am currently running Bosch platinums. I have only replaced once from the original factory ones. Mine runs great with these plugs. Just make sure you use a little antiseize if you don't buy the Marine version(the only difference is the coating on the threads). ------------- Utah '94 Ski, '03 Malibu SS LXI |
Posted By: ffhd1clt
Date Posted: July-21-2011 at 2:41am
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Quick question for you. I have what you call "standard heads," since I have a carburated 351 Ford engine in my 1998 Ski Nautique closed bow. I went to change the plugs for only the 2nd time in 1200-1300 hours, so the set I'm changing probably has 600 or so hours on them. Even though apparently my engine calls for the Autolite 24's, when I took out one of the old plugs to go buy new ones, I realized I had the 764's. I either made a mistake when I changed them out the first time, or someone told me to use the 764's, or that it didn't really matter, or whatever, certainly can't remember. Here's the thing, these things look excellent, even though apparently they are the "wrong" plug for my boat. I don't know enough about them to know the difference, but I'd like to hear the opinions of those who do. Could it be that the 764's are OK for both engines, but the 24's are only OK for the "standard heads?" Or is the answer that the 764's worked fine in my engine, but the 24's would work even better? I'd like to know, because I'm tempted to stay with the 764's unless someone can give me a good reason to go back to the 24's (I suppose there's a chance Correct Craft put the "wrong" plugs in to start with, and I just replaced them with what was in there). Thanks for any input in terms I can understand. ------------- Frankie @ LKN |
Posted By: GottaSki
Date Posted: July-21-2011 at 11:25am
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The difference is the thread depth, and you want that to be right.
Just because your boat is carbed, doesn't mean it doesn't havethe gt40 heads. Do you have the base 240, or 285 engine? There are also casting marks on the head to id them. google gt40 casting marks, you'll find them. ------------- "There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worthwhile as messing around with boats...simply messing." River Rat to Mole |
Posted By: ffhd1clt
Date Posted: July-21-2011 at 11:33am
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It is the 260hp engine. I had no idea about the threads, and this may explain why a couple of the plugs took downright force to remove. So the threads are a different depth, and that's it? ------------- Frankie @ LKN |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: July-21-2011 at 12:45pm
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Which one has the longer thread depth?
Also, interesting, how long where the non Gt-40 head Fords available? |
Posted By: ffhd1clt
Date Posted: July-21-2011 at 6:00pm
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The more I look into this, the more complicated it gets. My owners manual shows I need an Autolite 303, not the 24 everyone is saying I need, and the Autolite 303 is still a good number; my parts house has it in stock. Now, check this out...when he looked up my engine in his book, he showed it calling for an Autolite 23. GEEZ. I have now left a message with PCM in Little Mountain, SC, complete with my engine serial number. I'm going with the plug they say I should use. Just as a reminder to anyone reading this, I have a '98 Ski Nautique, with the 351 Ford carburated engine, 260 hp. According to my manual, there were 4 engines available that year: one Chevrolet 320 APEX, one Ford GT-40 with 310 hp, and two carburated engines, the 260 hp that I have, which they called "standard," and the 285 hp they called "high output." Both of the carburated engines are Ford. At least I'm learning something. Another thing I have learned is that I need to appy anti-seize lubricant to the threads of the spark plugs. ------------- Frankie @ LKN |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: July-21-2011 at 6:32pm
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Wow, that's a pretty interesting array of engines. I didn't realize there were so many options in one year.
It would be worth giving SkiDim as call as well. |
Posted By: Bri892001
Date Posted: July-21-2011 at 6:43pm
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You speak the truth:
http://www.correctcraftfan.com/reference/1998_brochure2/index.asp?page=28 - 1998 Engine 4 Options |
Posted By: ffhd1clt
Date Posted: July-21-2011 at 8:41pm
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Got it from the horses' mouth today, spoke to PCM. The correct plug is what most people were saying, the Autolite 24. When I asked about the Autolite 303 listed in my owner's manual, he said that they have changed the recommendation, as they do from time to time based on testing, etc. Thanks for the input, and by the way, don't wait until 1200-1300 hours to change out the spark plug wires, distributor cap, and rotor, as I did. The "ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra doesn't work when it comes to preventive maintenance items. ------------- Frankie @ LKN |
Posted By: horkn
Date Posted: August-05-2011 at 12:34am
| Frankie, there is nothing wrong with using ngk plugs on a 351w. If you want to use autolites, go ahead, but ngk and other plugs will work just fine. |
Posted By: merbesfield
Date Posted: July-04-2020 at 11:51am
| Can someone please confirm the statement above regarding proper gap of .40, but if you are running electronic ignition .55? My points system has been converted to Pertronix setup. Just picked up new Autolite plugs and want to gap them properly. Thx |
Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: July-04-2020 at 3:49pm
 ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
Posted By: merbesfield
Date Posted: July-04-2020 at 11:26pm
| I left the gap at .40. We will see. |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: July-05-2020 at 7:21am
A .40 gap is kinda beyond huge, a .040 gap on the other hand sound a lot better  Autolite 24 plugs at .040 inch gap with your Pertronix will be OK. Points used .035 inch plug gap through the years and it would work just fine with your Pertronix also. Pertronix generally says you can open your gap about .005 to .007 with their ignition setup. |
Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: July-05-2020 at 10:30am
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I missed the points/pertronix distinction, Ken. Thanks for clarifying. I don’t like to be one of those guys that gives bad info. (Like 75% of the posters over on FB) ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
Posted By: merbesfield
Date Posted: July-05-2020 at 12:30pm
| Thx guys. .040 is what we went with. Unfortunately it didn’t really fix very slight shudder at idle. Any ideas? |
Posted By: Jonny Quest
Date Posted: July-05-2020 at 1:17pm
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How about some additional info on the shudder you mentioned. Define shudder. In gear? Idle only? On acceleration? What rpm does the shudder disappear? A transmission damper plate can clatter/shudder as well as the transmission gears at very low idle. JQ ------------- Current 2003 Ski Nautique 206 Limited Previous 2001 Ski Nautique Open Bow 1994 Ski Nautique Open Bow Aqua skiing, ergo sum |
Posted By: merbesfield
Date Posted: July-05-2020 at 7:18pm
| The shudder is at idle as your moving thru the no wake zones. WOT is no problem at least doesn’t feel like it. Boats flys at full throttle. Shutter is also present even if you push the throttle up a little but over the idle speed. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: July-05-2020 at 7:29pm
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Mark, The shudder - like it's not running on all cylinders? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: merbesfield
Date Posted: July-05-2020 at 8:31pm
| Sort of like that yes. On lake as I type. Again WOT it flies but moving slow at idle or even 3000 RPMs has a shutter about kind of shakes a little bit |