Cherry Pink Headers

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ALBA73

ALBA73

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So...finally got my rebuilt 318 fired up Saturday late afternoon and with the help of the wife maintaining RPM (2500 - 3000) and keeping a close eye on the gauges for me things were going well until...about ten minutes into it I started to notice in the fading light of day that my newly painted headers were turning slightly pink and getting red in places although some ports were getting brighter than others so I had no choice but to shut her down :cry:

I an still waiting for my new timing light to get here so I set the timing as close as I could by hand but with a little bit of fuel in the carb bowls she just fired right up so I don't think I was a million miles away on the timing.

Any guidance or direction would be greatly appreciated and any advice on timing my 318 no matter how basic is also very welcome.

Bobby.
 
The timing is probably way retarded, that's a typical cause of really high exhaust temps on a new motor. Wait til you get your timing light before firing it up again.
 
lilcuda said:
The timing is probably way retarded, that's a typical cause of really high exhaust temps on a new motor. Wait til you get your timing light before firing it up again.
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That is what I am hoping for, something fairly simple.

There are things going through my head like being a tooth off on the chain, valves not closing all the way and all that other fun stuff.

Thank you for your comment lilcuda!
 
Also check the plugs.you may want it a little rich,not much till you get it broke in. A lean motor will have hot exhaust too.
 
daredevil said:
Also check the plugs.you may want it a little rich,not much till you get it broke in. A lean motor will have hot exhaust too.
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I will check the plugs tonight.

You managing to stay dry today???

Thanks Daredevil!
 
Perfectly normal for a new engine. This is exactly why TTI says not to run their headers on a new engine breaking in. The extra heat a new engine produces during break inperiod can and will damage the paint or coating on headers. Sounds like you found out. Go ahead and run the sucker. By the time you get it all tuned right, it'll be fine.

Straight from the TTI site:

"TTI FOOTNOTE # 17

Warning: First Engine Runs

TTI strongly suggests that you use an old set of headers or set of cast iron manifolds for your first engine run / cam break-in. This will insure that you will not damage the coating and void the warranty of your new headers. Header coating damage usually occurs during the first engine run / break-in when the exhaust temperatures exceed 1200ºF. Excess exhaust temperatures are normally caused by excessively rich or lean air / fuel mixtures and / or incorrect ignition timing."

Here's the link: http://ttiexhaust.com/Footnotes/17.htm

Don't sweat it. It's perfectly normal.
 
StrokerScamp said:
Perfectly normal for a new engine. This is exactly why TTI says not to run their headers on a new engine breaking in. The extra heat a new engine produces during break inperiod can and will damage the paint or coating on headers. Sounds like you found out. Go ahead and run the sucker. By the time you get it all tuned right, it'll be fine.

Straight from the TTI site:

"TTI FOOTNOTE # 17

Warning: First Engine Runs

TTI strongly suggests that you use an old set of headers or set of cast iron manifolds for your first engine run / cam break-in. This will insure that you will not damage the coating and void the warranty of your new headers. Header coating damage usually occurs during the first engine run / break-in when the exhaust temperatures exceed 1200ºF. Excess exhaust temperatures are normally caused by excessively rich or lean air / fuel mixtures and / or incorrect ignition timing."

Here's the link: http://ttiexhaust.com/Footnotes/17.htm

Don't sweat it. It's perfectly normal.
Click to expand...

Wow...that is extreme but most excellent news! I am so impressed with the Rust-Oleum high temp paint that I put on those headers, those suckers were glowing bright red and I thought they would look like burnt toast when they cooled down but they still looked as good as new!

I will wait till my light gets here before i give her another turn and try to dial her in a little closer and try to get a longer run out of it next time.

I have it set up at 10* BTC with the dizzy set just before 1 for startup. Where should I dial it into once things have had a chance to warm up?

Thanks for chiming in SS!!!

Bobby.
 
Hell if I know. they're all a little different. I usually end up with a little more than 10 initial if that tells you anything.
 
The engine is way to lean.:angry7:
The mixture is so lean it's turning the headers pink!!!!!!

I have seen this happen before and it is not good for your engine.
It's a new engine and every thing is a little tight so having it to lean is not what you want.

Everything needs to be correct as far as the mixture and timing goes.

I would jet the carb and set the timing for a safe break.
 
T67POWER said:
The engine is way to lean.:angry7:
The mixture is so lean it's turning the headers pink!!!!!!

I have seen this happen before and it is not good for your engine.
It's a new engine and every thing is a little tight so having it to lean is not what you want.

Everything needs to be correct as far as the mixture and timing goes.

I would jet the carb and set the timing for a safe break.
Click to expand...

X2, You beat me to it, a lean condition will make one run hot and make your manifolds or header glow. And no that is not normal! I don't know what carb your running but you need to richen it up!
 
T67POWER said:
The engine is way to lean.:angry7:
The mixture is so lean it's turning the headers pink!!!!!!

I have seen this happen before and it is not good for your engine.
It's a new engine and every thing is a little tight so having it to lean is not what you want.

Everything needs to be correct as far as the mixture and timing goes.

I would jet the carb and set the timing for a safe break.
Click to expand...

I have not made any changes to the carb since I took it off the car which was running pretty good in general before I rebuilt the engine.

Could timing alone cause this problem?
 
T67POWER said:
The engine is way to lean.:angry7:
The mixture is so lean it's turning the headers pink!!!!!!

I have seen this happen before and it is not good for your engine.
It's a new engine and every thing is a little tight so having it to lean is not what you want.

Everything needs to be correct as far as the mixture and timing goes.

I would jet the carb and set the timing for a safe break.
Click to expand...

Thats what i said yesterday post 4
 
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