exhaust manifold glows red

[835.0RS]

i have an 85 that i just got running and whenever i drive it the manifold and the back of the turbo glows red. the turbo is a new rebuilt unit. from other things i read on here i thought maybe the converter was plugged so i cut it out and welded in a length of pipe, still does it. even if you creep around town it does it.
the plugs are new autolites,has k&n filter on the end of the vam, has MSD wires, timing is at 10 degrees with the spout out and the air fuel gauge reads between ideal and rich the whole time.
any advice or help is greatly appreciated. also which injectors are the green ones?

[chalkys_explorer]

I've had mine do that on extended freeway runs but not around town. Someone correct me if i'm wrong but doesn't a manifold get real hot if your running rich??? it's caused by unburnt fuel burning in the exhaust manifold???

[Horsewidower]

Check your cam timing. Make sure that tdc is properly marked on your crank pulley.

[835.0RS]

mike, you said that a mis calibrated o2 sensor could cause it to lean out at cruise speed, does this relate to the air fuel gauge reading bouncing around once you get it up to full operating temp? does that indicate that it's bad?

[84svo2.3]

what kind of air fuel gauge do you have

[835.0RS]

i checked a few things today and the timing is set at 10 but when you plug the spout in it goes to 25 and stays there no matter what rpm. what would cause this? the gauge is one from advance auto.

[NavySVO]

i checked a few things today and the timing is set at 10 but when you plug the spout in it goes to 25 and stays there no matter what rpm. what would cause this?

You are good, it's supposed to do that.......the computer will advance the timing as needed with engine load, and you won't ever be able to replicate that with the throttle cable in your hand.

[SVOeric]

That's not completly true, it should advance about 20 degrees at idle, but the amount of advance should change as the rpm change. Take your TFI out, and have it checked.

I doubt this is your issue with the glowing manafold tho.

[NavySVO]

Take your TFI out, and have it checked.

Check it yourself if you have a meter........

[835.0RS]

tonight i drove the car after changing the timing. the timing was at the wrong 10. it's now set right or closer to right and now the manifold doesent glow anymore and i get better mileage. what is the best way to go on the exhaust(size,muffler)? has anyone ever used the rod's down elbow? when i upgrade exhaust do i have to change injectors or engine computers? i have read on here somewhere on here that on 84 & 85's you need to because of the smaller injectors.

[SVOeric]

exhaust and injectors/computer are 2 seperate upgrades. -- but you won't get as much out of an exhaust upgrade unti you upgrade the injectors/computer.

yes, Rods stuff is good stuf. most of us here run 3 inch down-pipes.. Read through the exhaust faq section.. there's a lot of info in there.

[835.0RS]

In running 3" down pipe do you use true 3" all the way or the more available or seen more often, 2-1/2" into/up to 3"?

[NavySVO]

Read through the exhaust faq section.. there's a lot of info in there.

rinse and repeat

[svono50]

In running 3" down pipe do you use true 3" all the way or the more available or seen more often, 2-1/2" into/up to 3"?

You won't be able to bolt 3" pipe directly to the factory elbow flange, it is too big to fit. My 3" DP was made with a 2.5" stub/ball flange to mate to the stock turbo elbow flange, then expands up to a 3" pipe after ~3". Since I am also still using a stock y-pipe I had a sililar 3-2.5" step down at the end of the DP. Good luck. YMMV.