LT1-LT4 Modifications 1993-97 Gen II Small Block V8

Headers getting Cherry Red..need Help!!!

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Old 01-13-2010, 08:04 PM
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Default Headers getting Cherry Red..need Help!!!

So i have 96 Impala stroked out 383 with performance heads, cam, BBK shorty headers, 38ib injectors and lt4 air intake manafold The Cam is Retarded by 2 degrees.

Got it tuned but still when i leave the Car on for about 4-5 minutes the headers tube glows, drive it around the block and alomst all the tubes are glowing red.....


Some say tuning and some say distributor....any ideas ???

thanks
Old 01-13-2010, 08:08 PM
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Sounds like a timing issue, or its super rich. Hows the performance?
Old 01-13-2010, 08:10 PM
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Sure its not running lean?
Old 01-13-2010, 08:11 PM
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cherry? head? red? getting?, what happened?
Old 01-13-2010, 08:11 PM
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That does sound like you might have the timing retarded.
But could be lean, Exhaust gases get hot when lean.
Old 01-13-2010, 08:16 PM
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Also, if its to retarded fuel will actually finish burning in the headers,causing headers to glow red. Check timing and then make sure your air/fuel ratio is correct.
Old 01-13-2010, 08:18 PM
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clogged cats perhaps?
Old 01-13-2010, 08:19 PM
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Yes, thats another possibility
Old 01-13-2010, 08:21 PM
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Never seen this before. Could you please post a picture? maybe in the dark?
Old 01-13-2010, 08:27 PM
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The cars been dyno tuned and fuel mixture is good so the tuner said...

Ill see if i can get a pic posted tonight if not tomorrow... but also heard maybe distributor could be going bad? dont know how true that is.
Old 01-13-2010, 08:30 PM
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oh yeah and no Cats....only 3" piping with a Xpipe and to flowmasters
Old 01-13-2010, 09:06 PM
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pull a plug and see if its lean..if the plug is a white ash color then you know that you super lean..bump some timing back in her
Old 01-13-2010, 09:08 PM
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The collectors are supposed to turn red are'nt they?
Old 01-13-2010, 09:32 PM
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Id say u might have a vaccum leak causing it to lean out, That engine has a optispark and if its not a msd its fixed no timing to worry about, How does it idle? Is it at operating temp when its doing this?
Old 01-13-2010, 10:23 PM
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It runs and performs great replaced the spark plugs and all ...the idle is solid and nice.

Im not sure if the collectors are suppose to turn red
Old 01-13-2010, 10:26 PM
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also the temp is at normal
Old 01-13-2010, 11:48 PM
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ive seen this on a 5.0 mustang....lean condition
Old 01-14-2010, 06:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Camaro-BMF
also the temp is at normal
NOTHING should turn RED
Old 01-14-2010, 06:35 AM
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im not getting this whole lean thing. Not saying it isnt so, but it makes no sense to me. If a engine is lean it will burn every molecule of fuel in the chamber leaving behind nothing but oxygen. Oxygen alone wont burn and therefore cannot generate heat, so a lean condition burns rapidly in the chamber and heat is disapated before the exh valve ever opens. On the other hand if its rich then there hot gases left over when the exhaust valve is opens causing the exh temps to elevate. Someone explain to me how lean creates exh heat.
Old 01-14-2010, 07:05 AM
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When it runs lean it does burn every bit of gas..and when it does it burns at a super-hot temp..mainly cause it burns so fast and so quick cause there is more air than gas. That's not a good thing. It makes it run hot and the combustion heat is so great it can't dissipate out.

When it's rich it doesn't fully ignite and therefore runs alot cooler, cause all the gas isn't being burned and the whole process of combustion is kinda being smothered.


You want the combustion to be at that perfect ratio to where all the gas and all the air will burn..which in all reality is a tiny hair rich..a tad more gas than air. The reason I say that is cause an atmosphere(atmospheric pressure at sea level) is 14.7:1, the majic number with the NA setup is 12.8:1..part of that is due to the cars engine having vacuum. Forced Induction cars are different.

Last edited by the_merv; 01-14-2010 at 07:11 AM.


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