73-87chevytrucks.com

73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Performance => Exhaust => Topic started by: polish pete on December 15, 2010, 10:03:23 pm

Title: header question
Post by: polish pete on December 15, 2010, 10:03:23 pm
hey guys just got some jegs headers for my 80 gmc, i cheaped out for now and i wanted to see the quality, anyways how close can i get to the plug wires before i start torching them? also there contacting the starter is that okay? or can it heat it up enough to where the starter wont turn?

and also just to ask does the smog pump get oiled from the engine?
Title: Re: header question
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 16, 2010, 10:32:25 am
I think if thee wires Ain't touching your ok but you have trouble account forr movement so I try to keep it 1/2" away if I can. And heat on the starter will make it weak you want to bent that pipe away from the starter
Title: Re: header question
Post by: 1979C20 on December 16, 2010, 10:48:50 am
My number 2 plug wire melted to my header, i pulled it off the header and changed my routing a bit and now its about 1/8th inch from the header. No problems.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: polish pete on December 16, 2010, 04:29:35 pm
well none of them are touching so i guess an 1/8th away wont do any major damage, and ill try to source out a micro starter if anything.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 17, 2010, 10:16:46 am
its touching now i would think even a micro would be close and will heat soak
Title: Re: header question
Post by: beastie_3 on December 18, 2010, 02:06:22 pm
You can get a starter wrap. Works pretty good.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: ToddN on December 18, 2010, 07:01:30 pm
I would say you could wrap the headers too but that would cost you about what you payed for the headers.  Yeah....wrap the starter.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: Grim 82 on December 18, 2010, 07:19:06 pm
If you're concerned with spark plug wire clearance, use asbestos sleeves over the wires. Mine have been laying on the headers for a few thousand miles now and haven't even discolored. I also used a cable come-a-long to pull the header out away from the starter a bit.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: 4x4orbust on December 18, 2010, 08:01:46 pm
If you're concerned with spark plug wire clearance, use asbestos sleeves over the wires. Mine have been laying on the headers for a few thousand miles now and haven't even discolored. I also used a cable come-a-long to pull the header out away from the starter a bit.


I use the same on my wires,   i went through 3 sets of wires melting to the headers before i put them on.   no problems since, been over a year.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: 1979C20 on December 18, 2010, 08:07:33 pm
How much for the asbestos sleeves?
Title: Re: header question
Post by: Grim 82 on December 18, 2010, 08:14:50 pm
Mine were in a 4 pack, and I think they were about $20. I only needed them for my #1 and #3 cylinders. Any parts store or race shop should have them in stock.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 19, 2010, 12:49:07 am
even if you wrap the starter you would still have to bend the pipe away. the sleeves i see why some put them on. but i dont think they are needed, just another way for someone to make money
Title: Re: header question
Post by: polish pete on December 19, 2010, 01:35:19 am
i see lots of useless help in this thread, my local race shop has a full set of spark plug covers for 50 bucks might need to invest in them and ill figure something out with the starter.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 19, 2010, 08:55:52 am
Well Pete you asked for help you got it.  now your saying its useless but if you knew what you were doing and had useful information to begin with then you wouldn't have asked for help so all you had from the get go was useless information and I/we just help you out with more useless information. So I guess your saying thanks and here I am to say hope you get it figured out and ask the guys and your race shop what to do. But remember one thing all they want is your money. If you did a search you will see its been covered with more useless information
Title: Re: header question
Post by: polish pete on December 19, 2010, 12:43:00 pm
oh crap im sorry man i meant to say useful info, i was half asleep when i typed that  ;D but in all seriousness this was very helpful guys sorry if i came across as an ass in that last post

i ask these questions to get real world experience instead of just some info,
Title: Re: header question
Post by: Irish_Alley on December 19, 2010, 01:07:46 pm
Lmao I was hoping that's what you ment::)
Title: Re: header question
Post by: ToddN on December 19, 2010, 05:53:11 pm
My real world info then is wrap your headers  Youll extend the life of those headers and squeeze a tad more performance out of them. 
Title: Re: header question
Post by: beastie_3 on December 19, 2010, 07:07:50 pm
Wrapping headers will void their warranty, and if they are cheap headers, they will warp and rust.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: polish pete on December 19, 2010, 09:49:09 pm
yea thats what it thought, ^^^ i know its better for them but ive heard of people cracking them because of hot spots where its not fully wrapped, and there cheap ones they will most likely warp at the flanges anyway.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: PromiseKeeper on January 06, 2011, 09:51:38 am
Pete,
I'm looking to do the same thing before spring. If you would, let me know what ended up working out the best for you. I have an 80 Chevy swb c-10 with a 305. Thanks!
Scott
Title: Re: header question
Post by: polish pete on January 11, 2011, 10:17:45 pm
hey guys put them on and they were ok fitting, my opinion is to get some quality stuff to not worry about fitment.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: Jim Rockford on January 19, 2011, 07:55:17 am
This is what happens when you wrap headers.
(http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1781/p4020011vg5.jpg)
Title: Re: header question
Post by: topp on January 19, 2011, 09:49:14 am
Wrap keeps moisture on the headers ans DESTROYS them, as the pictures show....
Title: Re: header question
Post by: 1979C20 on January 19, 2011, 11:41:40 am
wrapping headers is bad, but is the sleeves on the plug wires okay?
Title: Re: header question
Post by: Grim 82 on January 19, 2011, 11:54:06 am
Yes, and depending on which headers and plug wires you have, they can be absolutely necessary to keep the wires from melting. Look at the picture I posted on the first page. My plug wires are nearly 3/4" in diameter with the extra shielding, which is double any stock wire I have ever seen.
i dont think they are needed, just another way for someone to make money
It's a way for me to make money. Those wires were $150, and the sleeves are cheap insurance so I don't need to buy another set ;D
Title: Re: header question
Post by: 1979C20 on January 19, 2011, 12:34:44 pm
Grim, I've got the 8mm double insulated wires, and the number 2 plug wire touches the headers in like 4 spots. The boot for the plug, and the wire itself. So, my truck starts running like CRAP because it begins arching off onto the header and I get a miss fire. I have to stop, pop the hood, and move the wire off the header. So, I'll look into those sleeves.
Title: Re: header question
Post by: topp on January 19, 2011, 01:24:02 pm
I run the "socks" and have no issues since I got them.  Prior to that, my wires melted too many times in 2 months...