First start in 30 years

[John Scheibe]

I rebuilt the engine in my 49K 30 years ago and put 2 miles on it.  It has been sitting in my shop ever since.  I would no like to finish the car (interior, chrome, trunk lid paint, wiring harness). Have not been able to fire it up.  Within the last few days I have rebuilt the carb (it now squirts!), replaced the coil (internal resistor from NAPA), and turned it over, lubricated the cylinders, and checked timing (4 degrees before TDC at cranking speed).  There is spark, but I fear it is too weak.  Tried to get Champion J7 plugs at NAPA but no luck.  What plugs should I use?  Every now and then it will fire on one cylinder, but it will not start.  Any advice would be much appreciated.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

The original plug type for your car is the Auto-Lite A-5 which is a slightly cooler spark than the A-7; there is a Kaiser-Frazer Service Bulletin that suggests dealers go back down to the A-5 if the engine has at least 5,000 miles on it as a way to reduce the risk of vapor lock.  This is even more important these days as today's gasolines evaporate at a lower temperature than gas did when our cars were new (and engines were designed for). 

The following plug types will more or less "interchange" with the A-5:

AC 44 or 44R
Autolite (current numbering) 294 or A52
Robert Bosch W8F
Motorcraft AR41 resistor type
NAPA X502
NGK B6S

For the A-7

AC 45 or 45R (same as used in mid 1950's chevrolets)
Champion J8C (regular size, not the stub for lawn mowers)
Robert Bosch W9E

[G.B. (All Vinyl Dragon)]

KaiserFrazerLibrary ,
I have a lot of A-5 I will try that. Will change for Judging a Meet though.

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Attached is a 1951 Kaiser-Frazer Service Bulletin informing dealers that K-F is now using the A-7 heat range plug rather than the A-5 (slightly cooler spark) it used from the start of production.   It also states the use of A-7 plugs will cause the 226 to run hotter than with the A-5 and make the car more prone to vapor lock.  The factory approved use of A-5 on factory equipped A-7 plug 226 engines if the engine had at least 5,000 miles on it.   This information is NOT applicable on Darrin, Henry J and Allstate (or at least they are NOT mentioned in this Serivce Bulletin or in any future service info involving plug types). 

[John Scheibe]

Thanks All,  this is a huge help!!