Just finished swapping my 305 for a 350. The first time I started it, ran for about 5 minutes and had to shut it off due to leaking valve cover gaskets. Replaced those and started it up. Ran great. Continuing the cam break in. After about 10 minutes, the #8 spark plug wire caught on fire. Shut the engine off. The fire sperad to the evaporator cover and teh wires looms before I could get it out.

The wiring seems fine. The vacuum lines that runs to the ac vents was melted. Mostly just the corrugated wire looms burned. The lower part of my evaporator cover is toast. Besides getting cracked during the engine install I can now push my finger through it.
I have jet-hot coated TES headers and never had a problem with heat on the lg4. I sent them back on warranty to get recoated, coating had flaked and the headers were rusting. Jet hot says their coating is only good until 1300 F. I'm getting their new 2000 degree coating. Is it normal to have EGT that high or higher?

Any advice for the evaporator cover? What can I do to assure it won't catch fire again? Header wrap? What insulation do you recommend for the wires? I've heard of nomex but were can I buy it? Jegs, Summitt? Also does anyone know the accel shorty plug equivalent for an ac FR8LS3 plug? Thanks.

-Dave

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[This message has been edited by Arntzman (edited July 30, 2001).]

 

Look into getting some high performance plug wires that'll clear your headers. They sell some ultra high temp ones, but are expensive. You can occasionally find some real good ones on ebay cheap, as I did. As far as your boot insulators go, get yourself a Summit catalog. They have some insulators and you should be able to find yourself some, but they can also get very expensive. I personally have never used them, never needed to.

I never heard of a spark plug wire catching fire! Was there any contact to the header or just lack of space? What kind of wires were you using?

 

The wires are Jacob's energy core wires. Supposed to be good until 400-600 degrees(I think). They are sending me two of their ceramic boot wires to help with the high heat. I never had a problem with the wires until the new engine was put in. I'm not sure if the wire or the heater box caught fire, but both are burned. Onse the fire started is spreasd really quick to the wiring harnesses. Got the hose just in time!

The wire wasn't touching the headers and was run down the back of the block under the headers too. Had at least 1/2" of clearance if I remember. The boot is all melted, soft, and ashy now.

Any recommendations on certain protective covers? Thanks.

Any

 

check your timing. buddy of mine did a new 350 and the spring weights in the distributer were froze up and he had the wrong timing cover so he couldnt get the timing right it was way late so the gas was burning in the headers and they got cherry red. maybe thats what caused your fire. of course, all fresh engines run hot during break in