i have the tpis zz9x cam 287/290, 225/240 at .50, Gross Lift 525,558, Lobe Separation 112 with 1.6 roller rockers. I have struggled with burnt wires and plug boots for far too long.

After reading many a posts here, seems like timing and bad injectors are the issues surrounding this problem.

My question is to you guys with large cams with long duration are you ever able to solve the glowing header issue?

 

sounds like the engine is still running really lean,

 

I think you should datalog the car if possible to see what is going on. A glowing header is not normal no matter what cam you run.

 

X2 totaly agree.And if your burning plug wires and boots buy some sleeves for them.

 

More than likely running rich and dumping raw fuel into the headers where it is burning, and retarded timimg will also cause this.

Never put a bandaid on a problem (wire boots), find the problem and fix it.

 

Its not a bandaid. Plugs wires laying on headers melt plain and simple. And the sleeves protect the wires. Unless he has wire looms thats the only other way of having the wires not contact the headers.

 

First of all, the headers should never get hot enough to burn the wires.

If the wires are touching the headers, like I said, fix the problem.

If you can't get them off the headers.....then buy some of mine, they have lots of room.

Or, just go ahead and add the bandaid. (shrug!!)

 

Really how cold is your motor running that the headers cant get up to temp that you can pacticaly touch them.

Yeah no kidding its sleeves or wire looms there not band aids (Shrug !!)

 

You're not understanding. What don is saying is that an engine that is tuned and timed as close to perfectly as possible should not have it's exhaust getting hot enough to heat the headers up that much.

Therefore if we can consider that a fact then if your engine is indeed pumping out exhaust hot enough so that the spark plug wires melt or that the headers glow red hot then we can concede that there is a problem with the timing/mixture/ECM etc...

So if one merely puts wire sleeves over the spark plug wires then it can be considered a "band-aid" because it's not fixing the problem within the engine.

 

^^^^^Well said

 

And I agreed with that in my first post. And added if he keeps burning wires to put the sleeves on them. So what dont you understand.

 

I'm not quite sure what you're referring to as "what I'm not understanding"

You said
So I correctly informed you that you were wrong and that wire sleeves are indeed considered band-aids.

 

You didnt inform me of anyting except you ignorance. Headers run upwards of 250+ temps. Unless you get spark plug wires with the ceramic boots,have wire looms or sleeves your gonna burn wires if they are touching the headers.I agreed in my first post with IROCThe5.7L that he needs to check his car cause no matter how large a cam the headers shouldnt be glowing red.He is either running too lean or he needs to check his timing period.

 

Quit bickering. Exhaust gets hot. common sense. Plastic melts. again, common sense.

If Somebody wants to let their wires lay on the headers, so be it. If he hasn't had any problems let it be. If YOUR car gets hot and melts them go ahead and protect them.

Damn its pretty sad when people have to get on a tech board and argue about dumb stuff. A guy simply asked what could make his headers glow.
Dyno Don, IROCThe5.7L, kkingsrulee, and //<86TA>\\ answered his question. Now its up to the orignal poster to share his results or ask any other questions.

 

Thats what it was sure.

 

Welcome to online message boards! Get used to it. Happens all the time.

 

Isn't it great!

 

Most often glowing headers is caused by to much timing advance or to lean.

 

wow i didn't expect all this discussion. Well appreciated. I'd like to clear up a few things. None of the boots are actually touching the headers well #7 comes pretty close. I have recently added looms what do you think? I will check the timing again. I have tried everything under the sun, braided boots aluminum sleeves different types of wires they are all band aids sounds like i need to get some diagnostic software.

 

I would definatly check the timing and A/F ratio. Did you have a new chip burned for the computer to adjust for your upgrades ? Looms look good also plenty of room.

 

yeah tpis did the chip after everything was done. I had 2 or 3 tune sessions with them which didn't correct the problem I also have a dead spot @1800 rpm low throttle not sure if the two are related. I'll check the timing again. I will most likly get some software and an emulator so i can tune on the fly.

 

Hey GTA, where did you get those wire runners? I've never seen them before and I like them a lot better than my setup. Brand and P/N?

Thanks

 

[quote=Dyno Don;4285323]More than likely running rich and dumping raw fuel into the headers where it is burning, and retarded timimg will also cause this.

totally agree, i would start with raising the timing 2-4 degrees and see what happens. my buddys big block did the same thing on the dyno and all they did was add timing, power numbers went up from 673 to 714, and no more glowing headers.

thats my two cents good luck

 

I had the same problem in my 86 with the 383 in it. It was all in the timing. Even if you check it and its OK. I would still try moving it some to see if it helps. When I checked it the timing was close to where I thought it should be, but apparently thats not where it actually needed to be.If it still does it,then you know to look elsewhere. It can only be a couple things though as they've stated already.

 

i plan to check to make sure my timing tab is accurate something doesn't add up.

 

Is it the 350 timing tab location? I know that's there's a difference between the 350 and 305, that's why I asked. Course, you would probably know it was off if you were trying to use the 305 on that 350 block. Even when I used the same tab that came on mine I set it at 8* initially and still ended up changing it a lot after I got it in the car and tuned in the carb and the timing. I haven't looked at mine to see where it's at right now, I'll probably do that when I get the "new" transmission in it.

 

the timing cover is from the factory 350

 

next time I start mine I'll try to remember to check the timing to see where mine is since I've changed it.

BTW, what is the brand and part number of those orange spark plug wire clips? and how are they attacked to the valve cover?

 

they are center bolt looms from summit. they are drilled sealed and screwed into the valve cover.

 

try upgrading to the 8.8 mm MSD wires , and also try the VHT header paint i put mine on 3 years ago and its still black as hell ! with no primer, and it didnt smell of burnin or anything! just a quick idea?

 

I so agree with you, those sleeves make a lot of difference. In worst cases you can always resort to a spark arm but they look a bit goofy.

No matter what some here say, headers will always get hot enough to burn your wires even if not touching, even with a properly tuned engine. Get on it hard and long enough and it gets really hot in there, even with coated headers. Wrapped headers to offer a good bit more protection. Even if not touching, the heat will cause the silicone to develop cracks over time, no matter whay wire you buy. The sleeves simply help keeping the heat out of the wire.

 

last OP post date 09-30-2009, 09:29 PM

 

your point being?