Glowing headers

[PAT COBRA]

I have a 383 SBC with a Herbet camshaft and Edelbrock Perfomer RPM heads. I have just fitted Edelbrock Performer RPM air-gap manifold along with a Thunder series 650 carb. My problem is even though the engine fired up first time, within about 4 or 5 minutes the headers were glowing bright red (please see attached pics). No matter what I do with the timing I can't seem to cure this.

Does anyone have any ideas on where I'm going wrong? Desperately need your help on this one asap please gents as I was up till 1am this morning and have already missed out on track day today. Thanks PAT

[SVTRick]

I get that on my Lightning however once under way you get plenty of cooling air over them.
My Cosworth used to do the same thing.

[roscobbc]

Were you running on idle when testing? - is it too retarded on initial? - does the timing need bumping up a bit?

[chevy-stu]

Yep, heard this to be common on initial start-up of a new engine due to timing issues... Hope your hedders aren't ceramic coated cos it's probably bu@@ered them...

[LuS1fer]

My Corvette C4 had the headers glowing on a diagnostic rig but this obviously wasn't a problem on the move.

[steve-p]

LuS1fer said:

My Corvette C4 had the headers glowing on a diagnostic rig but this obviously wasn't a problem on the move.

Why, because you couldn't see them from the drivers's seat

A likely cause is misfiring on one or more cylinders for whatever reason, so that the unburnt fuel combusts in the manifold on the way out. Some years ago I had a plug lead fail in the early hours of the morning when 30 miles from home but needed to get back, so kept going. When I got home the exhaust manifold was red hot.

[andy rob]

got to be timing problem

[LS6wetdream]

i vote timing as well

[maudyZ28]

is this during break in of the engine??

obviously not moving they will glow a little but not super red, plus after break in they should not be as red.


its probably running a little lean and/or a combination of this and late timing

[trackm3]

deffo timing