Ok so today I caught my header wrap on fire(down neer the collectors). I do leak some oil but not there, and it happend on both sides, so I dont think its from that.

I do have bad valve tick on my driver side head, so I assume I need to adjust my valves. I havent yet because I dont have autoshop for a few days.

It only happens after I really drive it hard for a few minutes, and on hard deceleration my car pops out the exhaust.

Is this because of bad valve adjustment, or should I look elsewhere?

 

IMO I would also check the timing and make sure it isn't running lean. What do your spark plugs look like?

 

lean is the only thing that will make exhaust run hot. like fire hot. That can be caused by a few things, under fueling, timing that too far out of adjustment, I should say on a stock type of engine. If you have a 500 HP monster you can do that just by BTU out put of the engine. but in your case... you have a under fueling issue.

 

I'll pull my spark plugs tonight and post some pics. I have never tuned my carb before (edelbrock 1406) so mabye it is running lean?

I had some one set my timing for me (forgot what it is at) and I havent moved it. It has been the same way for a long time without a problem.

My fuel pump is from my old lg4 that came with the car, should I check if fuel pressure is dropping off at high rpms?

 

Check all of that and what ever else you can think of, I would concentrate on the full delivery.

 

Pulled two plugs, couldnt get a good picture but they looked ok to me according to a chart I found online.

 

Sounds like a exhaust leak is pulling in fresh air and causing a burn/pop in the pipes.
Fix your exhaust leak if you have one.

 

Late timing. Fuel is still burning after it enters the exhaust system

 

Sounds almost like what would happen with a computer distributor and no computer.

Also yet another powerful argument AGAINST header wrap. One of those products that has no useful function, yet suppliers supply it solely because buyers demand it.

 

Yeah...what they both said. Retarded timing will heat things up quick! Is your timing not advancing with rpm's?? popping of your exhaust is just another symptom.

Big trade off using header wrap...does it lower underhood temps? Probably a little...but it also promotes corrosion under the wrap over time.