Glowing Headers on a Chevy 400 small block

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jdl243@psu.edu - 09 Mar 2007 15:14 GMT

I have an '84 Sierra with a 400 small block in it. Its from a '72 so
its low compression, but I am having problems with glowing headers. I
just very recently took the intake off to fix a leaking rear gasket so
I put the distributor back in but I put it in exactly where it was
before. I had it marked but who knows. Anyways, I have this problem
so I need some help. It seems to run good especially with hightest
but I usually only need regular 87 since it runs fine. I am just
mentioning some details about gas and what I have done so you know
incase it matters. Also has cats for some reason (whoever built the
truck put them on...kinda pointless) but I cannot imagine both of them
going bad and being plugged up at the same time. One more thing is
that this truck is set up for EGR but there isn't one! The guy put a
plate over it on the intake so there is that issue too. The valve
covers do not have a PCV either, just a breather on each cover.

I need to fix it asap in the parking lot of my apartment before
Saturday (March 10) if I can! I am headed home on break and a
wedding; so any quick suggestions before I have to take it to a
garage! I do not have a timin light on me so thats why I am here to
ask for some backyard advise. Thanks a lot for the help.

-Buddy Lyman

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N8N - 09 Mar 2007 16:46 GMT

On Mar 9, 10:14 am, jdl...@psu.edu wrote:

> I have an '84 Sierra with a 400 small block in it. Its from a '72 so
> its low compression, but I am having problems with glowing headers. I
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
>
> -Buddy Lyman

Retarded timing will cause a hot exhaust, just try advancing a little
until it bucks back when starting and then back off a little bit.

The right way to do it, of course, is to use a timing light, but if
you don't have one that will at least get you to the parts store to
pick one up.

nate

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Steve B. - 09 Mar 2007 20:24 GMT

>I need to fix it asap in the parking lot of my apartment before
>Saturday (March 10) if I can! I am headed home on break and a
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
>-Buddy Lyman

My guess would be that your timing is off. Advance the timing to the
point that you get a little bit of pinging at full throttle under
load and then back it off just enough that the pinging goes away. I
usually just put my wrench in my pocket and take it for a spin. Pull
over and adjust the timing a little at a time until you get it right.

It is also possible that you have a large vacuum leak but I would
expect you would be noticing other derivability problems if that was
the case.

Steve B.

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