911 exhaust glowing red

Dino911 · Dino911's Garage

Hi all,

I have a '79 911 SC , problem that I am experiencing is that the exhaust manifolds are glowing red hot after start up , am afraid to drive it until I can figure the problem out. Any help?

911 tweaks · 01-06-2010, 03:30 AM

I would venture to guess...only a guess...your h/e's are about to fall apart, meaning, the metal is very thin OR your engine is running VERY lean which will cook the engine in real short order...
Good luck & keep us posted!!
Bob

Dino911 · Dino911's Garage

What do you suggest I do? h/e ?meaning

tobluforu · tobluforu's Garage

You should post this on the tech board, but do you have cats installed on the car?

tctnd · 01-06-2010, 08:43 AM

Check the timing and make sure the advance is working properly. If not, it can get very hot very fast.
regards,
Phil

RarlyL8 · RarlyL8's Garage

Check your timing, fuel mixture and fuel injectors, in that order. If all OK check the valves.

jimbauman · 01-06-2010, 11:09 AM

Do you have heat exchangers, or just headers? Catalytic converter? What exactly is glowing red? How much of it?

davidppp · 01-06-2010, 02:42 PM

Dead lean...6:1 odds..

Kind regards
David

DUK · 01-06-2010, 04:29 PM

Check your timing, fuel mixture and fuel injectors, in that order. If all OK check the valves.

777joee · 777joee's Garage

I'll guess it runs but not real well and it happens after about a minute or so right? Well most of the books even the BENTLY Book had the timing wrong. 1978 make sure the plug wires are going the proper counter clockwise direction in the firing order.

I did it and my cat glowed red because it was burning all the extra gas. The motor was running OK but had low power then I saw this glow.......very scary. Then I went back to basics and double checked everything. Then it purred like a kitten..........WHEW!.........until I found the broken head studs..........only seven then it was time for a rebuild anyway.........

Dino911 · Dino911's Garage

Hi All,

Thanks for the replies , to answer a few , there are no cats installed on engine , the heat exchangers get red hot after a minute or two, will check timing and let you all know, have to strip engine down in any case cos oil pours out of left bank into exhaust , any clues?

RichHawk · RichHawk's Garage

Figure out and fix what is causing your red hot exhaust before you take the motor out, or else it will likely damage your new engine as well.
Richard