Red hot manifolds
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
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Red hot manifolds
Hi, I just got my 88 F150 with a 302 back together and took her for a spin. I noticed when I opened the hood after a short drive that the exhaust manifolds are glowing red. I don't think that is good. I had her apart and repaired a burned exhaust valve and basically cleaned and painted and put it back together. It idles smooth and quite but seems to not have any acceleration like it is not getting any fuel. If I give it fuel easy it will take it but there is not allot of power. What would cause this? I should mention there is no knock sensor installed. but I don't think this would cause this. Any body know what could be wrong?
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 636
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From: Portage Twp, PA
Two things spring to mind when I think cherry-red manifolds: an extreme lean condition, or a broken/missing EGR valve. Either way, chasing the codes out of the computer seems to be of utmost importance at this point.
Pat
Pat
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Joined: Dec 2008
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C Holmes-
Your condition sounds like your timing is EXTREMELY retarded.
Seriously retarded timing will cause glowing manifolds and a major lack of power like you described.
I would be willing to bet that it isn't starting as easily as it once did and now requires a fair amount of cranking and maybe some addition of gas pedal to get it going.
Put a timing light on your motor and see where it is at.
Your condition sounds like your timing is EXTREMELY retarded.
Seriously retarded timing will cause glowing manifolds and a major lack of power like you described.
I would be willing to bet that it isn't starting as easily as it once did and now requires a fair amount of cranking and maybe some addition of gas pedal to get it going.
Put a timing light on your motor and see where it is at.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 13
From: Sand Lake, MI
C Holmes-
Your condition sounds like your timing is EXTREMELY retarded.
Seriously retarded timing will cause glowing manifolds and a major lack of power like you described.
I would be willing to bet that it isn't starting as easily as it once did and now requires a fair amount of cranking and maybe some addition of gas pedal to get it going.
Put a timing light on your motor and see where it is at.
Your condition sounds like your timing is EXTREMELY retarded.
Seriously retarded timing will cause glowing manifolds and a major lack of power like you described.
I would be willing to bet that it isn't starting as easily as it once did and now requires a fair amount of cranking and maybe some addition of gas pedal to get it going.
Put a timing light on your motor and see where it is at.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
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Thanks everyone for all your suggestions, I am sure all the plug wires are correct as it idles smooth as glass so if wires were wrong I think it would miss. Danr1 you are right, sometimes I need to give it gas to start it and timing seems to be the logical choice. I will check it and see what is going on there.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 154
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Turns out it was 6-7 deg retarded. The distributer was put back exactly where it was so I am thinking that is why the exhaust valve may have been burnt to begin with. I bought it that way so I don't know what it worked like before.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,670
Likes: 13
From: Sand Lake, MI
Yea that condition probably lead to the burn valve, the condtion also toasts a wire set. Especially if the heat shields are gone. If you look at the plug end boots real close, flexing/bending them around you'll likely find they are very brittle and or covered with cracks.
After that I'd change the wires on it even if they do look good, even wires made for use with headers can't take that kinda heat for very long.
After that I'd change the wires on it even if they do look good, even wires made for use with headers can't take that kinda heat for very long.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Dec 2003
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Fortunately, it was only about a mile so I think I did OK, but a set of wires is in the near future anyways. Do you know anything about speedo cables? Is there some kind of adapter that will allow me to use the VSS sensor with the old style speedo cable?
New User
Joined: Mar 2010
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the exhaust manifolds on my 1991 bronco glow red, it has a sevre lack of power, as i give it gas it starts surgeing. every now and then after the first start of the day it will die, then takes forever to start it again. i've changed the fuel pump, regulator and filter, done a complete tune up. the problem hasnt changed? oh yeah also checked CAT. not the problem.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,244
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if ur manifolds are glowing red its timing not the cat
the cats will be glowing like a blast furnace when they are clogged and wont make power for crap
and if u shut it off and it wont start its ur timing
so check it ;P
the cats will be glowing like a blast furnace when they are clogged and wont make power for crap
and if u shut it off and it wont start its ur timing
so check it ;P
New User
Joined: Mar 2010
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its EFI, uses a crank position sensor, haynes book says not to use distributor position to set timming, its a baseline for the computer. is it possible over time for the distributor to move, or anything inside that my weardown and cause the timming to retard?
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2009
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no u pull the spout connector out and that stops the EEC from advancing the timing and if the distributor bolt isnt tight enough it will move over time
pull the spout connector and set it back to 10*btdc i think and then tighten the little bolt back then plug the spout back in
or u can advance it a little to get a little more HP out of it but either way b4 turning the distributor unplug the spout
pull the spout connector and set it back to 10*btdc i think and then tighten the little bolt back then plug the spout back in
or u can advance it a little to get a little more HP out of it but either way b4 turning the distributor unplug the spout