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Odd Discoloring On My Headers. Dauntless

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by Buildflycrash, Oct 19, 2018.

  1. Oct 19, 2018
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Took the tub off the project last night to get ready for paint. Didn't feel right at all taking the Jeep apart in a couple hours that I've spent the last 6 months putting together...

    [​IMG]

    Then this morning I noticed the headers on one side of the Jeep are discolored much more than the other side. I've run the thing around the block a few times but maybe an hour or so total. Do you think I have a big cooling issue on the driver side as the Headers on the other side are hardly discolored at all?

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
     
  2. Oct 19, 2018
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    chrome headers will blue/yellow . no matter what
     
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  3. Oct 19, 2018
    OzFin

    OzFin Vintage Jeep Guy

    Michigan
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    That does seem a bit peculiar.
    If you have access to a infra red thermometer you could warm the motor up and then scan the motor with the thermometer and check to see what difference, if any, there is from one side to the other.
     
  4. Oct 19, 2018
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    The difference in color is related to how hot they are running, though not necessarily a "cooling" issue. Theoretically, they should run approximately the same temperature, and the discoloration should be similar side to side. My guess is the discolored side is running lean. This could be a vacuum leak or bad intake gasket on the offending side. Lets see what some others here have to say.
    -Donny
     
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  5. Oct 19, 2018
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

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    The discoloration is from the nickel from the chroming process...
     
  6. Oct 19, 2018
    Keys5a

    Keys5a Sponsor

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    Scott's question is why the left header is discolored and the right side isn't.
    -Donny
     
  7. Oct 19, 2018
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    I'm with Keys. You've got a rich/ lean issue. 2bbl and stock manifold?
     
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  8. Oct 19, 2018
    Buildflycrash

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    Correct. I am changing the intake gasket before I run it again. Looking for more possible reasons for the hot/cold sides?
     
  9. Oct 19, 2018
    Admiral Cray

    Admiral Cray I want to do this again.. Staff Member

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    If you can fire it up and idle it, measure the temps with a IR temp gauge. The color is not a good indicator. They could have been plated differently, plating bath times, etc...

    I have seem it before on Motorcycles...
     
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  10. Oct 19, 2018
    OzFin

    OzFin Vintage Jeep Guy

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    Do you have a heater bypass hose running from the water pump nipple to the right rear side of the intake or do you have the two ports capped / plugged off on that side?
     
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  11. Oct 19, 2018
    Beach66Bum

    Beach66Bum 1966 Tuxedo Park Mark IV 2024 Sponsor

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    Another vote for the air /fuel mixture being different between banks.
    What do the exhaust pipes look like inside at the exits?
     
  12. Oct 20, 2018
    OzFin

    OzFin Vintage Jeep Guy

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    I have read before that bypassing the heater with a hose connected from the water pump heater hose nipple to the right side intake manifold port can cause some recirculation of coolant ( without it going through the radiator) and consequently one side of the motor runs a slightly different temperature than the other. It was suggested that if the heater was not in the cooling circuit it would be best to cap/ plug off the ports as opposed to coupling them together with a hose.
    If you have the hose setup you could test this theory by running the motor up to temp and using an infrared thermometer to check left & right side temps, then pinch the hose off an check again a few minutes later after allowing enough time for any variation in temps to stabilize.
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2018
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  13. Oct 20, 2018
    70cj5134f

    70cj5134f Member

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    Advancing timing and richening the carb will cool the exhaust.
    I've seen them cherry red with timing retarded.
    Ps- ceramic coating much more durable than chrome!
     
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  14. Oct 20, 2018
    Buildflycrash

    Buildflycrash More or Less in Line. 2024 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

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    Has a short bypass hose. I’ll use my needle nose vice grips clamp the hose and test when I get it back together.

    Looks like a magic temp guage thing is also in my future.
     
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  15. Oct 24, 2018
    mike16

    mike16 New Member

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    I have seen products for sale in motorcycle magazines that can remove the discoloration, that blueing is common on chromed exhuaste pipes on bikes.
     
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  16. Oct 25, 2018
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

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    I highly doubt a cooling issue would have anything to do with exhaust temps. Whether your engine is running at 180° or 210° isn't a drop in the bucket when your exhaust temps are 800-1000°.

    If the two sides are running at different temps, it's definitely an issue with lean/rich. If not, I'm with Cary on the plating inconsistency theory.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2018
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  17. Oct 25, 2018
    Chilly

    Chilly Active Member

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    It looks like the three runners are same color on each bank so not one cylinder misbehaving. That almost certainly rules out ignition or exhaust gasket leak. Id borrow an IR gun at Autozone (if they have one for rent). Shiny stuff screws with IR guns so absolute value will not be accurate but difference should show up.

    Does each barrel of the 2bbl feed one bank or the other? That seems to be what some are suggesting.

    Someone recommended reading the plugs to compare left vs right, and examining for differences in soot at ends of the headers.
     
  18. Oct 25, 2018
    Buildflycrash

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    Thanks for the replies guys. I’ve got the Jeep apart just now but I’ll check it out better in a couple weeks.
     
  19. Oct 25, 2018
    Rich M.

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    Iirc the factory two barrel ( non egr) intake has no communication between the banks. I like to use a vacumn gauge for tuning.
     
  20. Oct 25, 2018
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

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    Normally a Rich issue I believe as the excess fuel is still burning in the pipe on the way out..........caused by in most cases just a poor OEM manifold design & vacuum signal....Exhaust scavenging could also be affected which could also be cam timing............But at Idle or low RPM it's just a typical problem with most early carbureted motors as the cylinder temps based on the manifold pulse don't really balance out much until you get near WOT when the plenum below the carburetor is pretty much full of fog. Add in the fact that's an Odd fire and it just complicates the struggle to balance cylinder temps........

    On chrome it always wants to be clean....any oil or chemical residue will burn off on the surface.........so always wipe with a clean rag and if you're still concerned take the muffler off and wipe your finger inside the collector.
     
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