Exploder update!
Seems the exploder has exploded.
Nice.
The new exhaust did nada to improve the operation.
In fact, the bastard runs the same, if not worse- and there’s a nasty tendency for the right rear exhaust manifold to glow bright red.
So it’s rentals for a while, while I gather my armies of darkness
resources. Plan is to get the BIL’s van titled and use it while getting the pieces in place for the truck. I spect it will need a new top end, and that brings on a whole category of while I’m at it, so I might very well find myself doing a lower end as well.
Good lord.
10 comments Og | Uncategorized
Maybe one of the new cats is plugged up as well?
Every time I’ve had a glowing exhaust manifold, it’s either been a plugged exhaust, or seriously screwed up (like 30* off) ignition timing.
Can you pull the new exhaust off, and run it with just the manifolds for a little while as a test? Loud as hell, of course, but maybe the only way to eliminate the new exhaust parts as the cause.
Don’t think it’s the new cat. I think I’m running lean like an injector is hosed. Otherwise it’s a burned valve.
I have a friend that is parts/service director at a Ford dealer and he has told me that they can’t rebuild engines for less than motorcraft remans. And you get the warranty. Might be something to check into.
Yeah, I’m gonna put a set of Ebay injectors on it and see if that fixes anything., If not, I’m for a reman, that’s sure.
I know I am speaking to the King of the Home Garage, but have you done a compression check?
That’s next, Slash.
You don’t want to hear it, but my opinion is that the Exploder is Worn Out. I believe that most any car today is good for 200K miles with minimal problems, but it’s on borrowed time past that. If it keeps on running for 300K, that’s fine, but when you have major trouble and the odometer is past 200K, it’s time to get rid of it.
Great idea, Jim. Problem is, the bluebird of happiness ain’t gonna shit me a new truck anytime soon. And I bet I’ll drive this 50,000 miles past the time when any other vehicle would be in a yard, rusting.
As for worn out: No. Worn, and damaged, at present, but not worn out. Worn out begins at about 400,000 miles. This is a Ford, after all, and not a Chrysler corporation product. (duck & run)
Back in the day, before cat converters, there was another bugaboo, caused by RICH running: carbon. If the exh. manifold is carboned up, it will suffer in the performance dept, AND it will glow red because the carbon heats up (but never burns off at manifold temps).
You didn’t say what engine the Exploder had, but if it’s a V-6, the back cyls might be the culprits for cold running, and therefore, carbon.
Before you scrap out the engine, look at the manifolds. It might be possible to apply a torch flame to the outside of the manifolds and burn off some of the carbon.
BTW, this was in Popular Science’s “Say Smokey” column, written by Smokey Yunick, one of the first great stock car mechanics. Maybe 40 years ago, maybe almost 50. I do remember that the car whose exhaust he had his mechanic decarboning was an MG TD….
yeah, I will have to take a lot of shit off to get this working, Rivrdog, so I may well be checking that out.