Guest 280ZXT83 Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 What a wonderful sound that V8 makes! I turned over my built-not-bought 350 in my 82ZXT today, and it fired up on about the 10th try (don't underestimate quality grounding of your engine. unpredictable results will occur if you don't ground everything!). I ran the engine for about 5 minutes at 2000 rpms or so, then shut it down due to heavy smoke in the garage (cheap paint on my custom headers). I fired it up for another 5 minute run, and noticed that all of my headers were RED HOT, Literally!. I thought they were going to melt off the sides of the engine. Is that the way headers look? I've never had them, so I don't know. I had some minor backfiring happening out the passenger side pipe (Z's were made for side pipes, by the way), but that should not have made all the exhaust headers that fire red, I'm guessing. I have cat. convertors, if that makes a difference. Bottom line: are the headers supposed to be that red (nearly translucent red-hot)? Thanks-JP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 Are they really cheap thin walled tubing? Maybe the air fuel mixture needs some attention....they should not get THAT hot. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 280ZXT83 Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 I don't THINK it was thin walled tubing (it certainly wasn't CHEAP!! They were customer jobbers from a pretty reputable local place here in St. Louis). Could the timing being off contribute or cause this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greimann Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 Retarded timing will cause the exhaust to run very hot. The cats are not the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 How about some pictures of those headers! I really need a set of headers for my LT1 280ZX! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8dats Posted August 28, 2003 Share Posted August 28, 2003 how about a pic of them glowing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 280ZXT83 Posted August 29, 2003 Share Posted August 29, 2003 I'll take some pics the next time I fire it up and post some pics. The headers themselves are quite creative, given the steering rack and column. Incorporating dual cat converters and side pipes is a whole other series of pics I'll get posted as soon as I can. But, let me kind of bare my soul with the timing issues. I had a guy that was helping me with the in depth mechanical/engine portion of the project, that is no longer available to me. I have done some searches of the site regarding timing, but it seems from my review that most of the timing Q and A assume I have some markings on the balancer, which I don't have. I tried to establish TDC for Cyl #1 by holding my thumb over the spark plug hole as I turned over the engine. This got me to where I at least can start the thing. How do I get to where I can nail down exact TDC for #1 and get my timing to a point where I'm not nuking the headers (while holding my thumb over the hole got me started, it can't be good for the engine to run it this far out of whack in regards to timing, I'm guessing)? If you know of a site or some other posting on this site, please direct me there. I still have access to all of the tools to get this done( timing lights, etc.) I'm just not sure of the next step. It's fun to start it up and run it, but I don't want to risk all of the work I've got into the engine, so also gimme a heads up as to the risks running it with retarded timing... Thanks again for your help and patience. Learning as I go... JP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeinCA Posted August 29, 2003 Share Posted August 29, 2003 I have patriot Block huggers... and they do not get that hot.I wouldnt touch them.. and they melt my electrical tape on my wiring a bit... but glowing hot anything is BAD in my opinion... I found TDC by removing the valve covers and turning the engine until both the 1 and 2 cylinder's valves were shut. then you look in the cylinder through the spark plug hole and make sure that #1 is at the TOP of it's stroke. Then if you really want to be sure.. you could pull the timing cover... You really should have timing marks and a guage on the engine... it will make your life MUCH easier... this reminds me... i havent even checked my timing yet!... DOH! Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest greimann Posted August 29, 2003 Share Posted August 29, 2003 It is hard to believe you don have a timing mark on your balancer. It is just a cut across the rim that is intended to be read relative to the timing tab as shown: If you really don't have any markings and the engine runs, just blindly advance the distributor a few degrees (10, 15 or more if necessary) to get it running better. You advance the timing by rotating the distributor counter-clockwise when viewed from the top. The motor should smooth out and increase RPM. Also check this out. http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/howto/45673/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted August 29, 2003 Share Posted August 29, 2003 Hold a piece of chalk on the damper with the engine running, then hold a rag against it. The chalk will stay behind in the groove/timing mark if you have. It may be very faint and slightly obscured. Otherwise hold a piece of wire against the top of the piston and rotate the crank until to feel that the piston is no longer moving up in the bore. that will get you close to TDC. But as Dave says above, just fire the engine and keep advancing it until you get best idle. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 280ZXT83 Posted August 29, 2003 Share Posted August 29, 2003 Thanks for the suggestions. I'll take a look. I have a nice 3 day weekend to make some progress, then I'll be back on tuesday with and update and some pics. JP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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