headers heating up

[rogmit]

well i fixed the ignition problem with the distributor being rebuilt, then my fuel pump went out, so i got that replaced and my truck starts now but the headers are turning cherry red after it runs a few minutes, also i removed the shrader valve on the fuel injection fuel rail and i put in a fuel guage where that valve was, is that causing a fuel problem or does it sound like a catalytic converter problem. what's does any body think the problem is?

 

[Broncobill78]

Without more info on the truck & engine it's hard to say for sure but it sounds like a mixture problem. If it's turning the headers cherry red then you're running *way* rich. The excess fuel is continuing to burn as it leaves the head thru the exhaust ports and it's superheating the headers and that's why they're turning red. Might be a fuel pressure problem (a pinhole leak in the regulator) or it might be a processor problem. Might be something like a bad O2 sensor telling the processor that the engine is running lean so it's trying to compensate by pumping in more fuel. There are a number of things that can *cause* the problem but the root of it is too much fuel. Did this start immediately after you replaced the fuel pump ? You put a gauge on it but what was the reading ? Just HOW much fuel pressure are you running ? A blown regulator will let too much fuel in. Is the truck throwing any codes ? Is the Ck Engine light on & if so what codes is it giving you ? What do the sparkplugs look like ? are they black ? Does the exhaust smell like fuel ? I'm going to assume that you've *double* checked the timing to be sure it's correct. How old are the injectors ? I've seen a bad injector O-ring spew a lot of additional fuel into the engine cause a pig-rich condition. Do *both* headers get just as hot ? Is it one side more than the other and can you maybe *see* if one tube in particular is getting hotter than the rest ? Do you have black smoke in the exhaust ? The processor could also be going into a cold-start mosde & giving it a lot of choke if it's getting bad info from the IAT, inlet air temp sensor or ECT, engine coolant temp sensor. While a blocked converter is *possible* that hasn't been a real problem for an awful long time, the late 70's/early 80's converters had a tendency to fall-apart internally and block the exhaust or guys who still had access to leaded fuel would use that and destroy them internally but I haven't seen or heard of a bad converter in quite some time, that's not to say it doesn't still happen occasionally but it wouldn't be high up on the list of suspects.

 

[bigtrux]

DITTO with bronco bill definatly too much fuel. I had this prolem with another vehicle it was a combo of 3 things a bad o2 sensor timing was off as well as the idle... becuz whoever had it before me just didn't know what they were doing and had it all messed up . A clogged cat is always a poss . but i would check the timing and idle. also the o2 sensor... Good Luck Trux