New LT1!!! with problems :(

[x-gt-x]

I recently bought a brand new 1995 LT1 crate engine. pulled it apart and installed an LT4 "hot" cam kit and headersand removed all emissions stuff. the car is wired with a Street & Performance wiring harness and they reprogrammed the PCM for me taking into account all the mods. Well I just got everything hooked up and when I cranked it over it fired right up!!!!! sounds AWESOME to, But i let it idle for about 2 mins and then noticed that the pass. side header started smoking. I thought maybe there was just crud burning off of it (and there probably was) but then the header started to turn blue, but the temp felt the same as the drivers side header. I havent ran it since. Is this normal for headers to turn blue? if so, why just this side? or maybe the PCM hasnt had time to adjust properly and i should run it longer? I dont know.

BTW all sensors are brand new and no vacuum leaks except "maybe" the T.B. gasket as this was the only gasket on the whole engine that I reused

Thanks alot

[x-gt-x]

37 views and no replys??? somebody has to know whats going on

[Joe 1320]

Without viewing the data stream, all we can do is an educated guess. Headers that are non-coated are going to discolor. The jet hot or ceramic coatings do wonders to preserve the integrity of a finish. Even chrome will turn blue from the heat. Now, the question is whether there are any problems that might cause one side to turn and not the other. It is highly doubtful that there is an engine condition that would manifest itself at idle. Almost every instance requires considerable more fuel and oxygen to provide heat.... mucho more than at idle. I have seen plugged cats that cause elevated temperatures. For one side to heat while the other remains normal, in this instance you would need to be running dual cats. One would be plugged while the other remains fine. My best guess would be inconsistant material content of the headers from one side to the other. It is possible that impurities in the metal and/or finish could be causing the inconsistant color.Often times protective oil coatings are applied to prevent rust during storage and shipping, they burn off quickly. Best advice would be run the car. Most likely the other header will "catch up" and discolor as well. Monitoring 02 values would help you see if one bank is running really lean compared to the other. Hope this helps.

[Craig 2000 TA]

while this doesn't explain only one side discoloring...it is common for rebuilt or new engines to really roast a set of headers on the first hour or so running... I guess its all the friction of being new. Most folks I know keep a junk set of headers to put on just for this purpose. After it has run some then they put on the shiny new headers with new gaskets and its all good.

Just one other thought...dont assume there are no possible leaks just because you used new gaskets....double check them...you never know.

[96TAragtop]

Assuming the general color of the metal was blue, I wouldnt worry too much about it. If it was GLOWING blue, well- thats a different issue. But like the others said, it's highly unlikely that much heat would produced from idling for 2 minutes.

I think you're ok man.

-G

[x-gt-x]

thanks guys i just spent a good while on the phone with a few of the companys i bought parts from and they all said the same thing. The header company said the blueing is normal. and my harness/comp. company said I havent even ran it long enough to even things out and set values in th PCM so all is well!

Thanks again!

[wolfdogs]

"blueing" is ok.

"red ing" is not.....or "oranging"

blue does not indicate overheating.

[BAS]

assembly lube?

Did you use assembly lube on the cam?

You didn't even break the cam/motor in for 20 minutes?

I've never seen headers turn blue? That has
to be one step hotter than red. (Like on a
propane torch?)

My new headers glowed red when we broke
in the cc extreme camshaft. It was freakin hot.