Hello

Background:
I just installed my new motor with headers- everything fit great, the electronic ign. swap (from points in the the motor) went smoothly too.

The motor was in a 63. I put it in my 73. The difference I forgot to think about was cable shift vs/ linkage collumn shift! After an extra unplanned day under the car I massaged the linkages out of the way and hung the exhaust pipe that was on the 63 valient on my 73 swinger. Needed a little massaging too!

Question:
When I went to tune the car I couldn't get it to idle until I turned down the mixture screws on the sides of the holley 2barrel, and after I first got it started I let it warm up for ten or fifteen minutes with the hood closed at 1200 rpm while I cleaned my tools. (I know, bad idea)

When I went to drive it the brake pedal hissed and went to the floor repeatedly (I think I boiled the juice). I have manual drums. Once it cooled later and I got it to idle at 600 in drive with the brake on I wasn't having brake boiling problems, but I went out and bought a velcro heat blanket for starters to go on my master cyl. I don't think the pipe is too close to the lines to the rear, but Im not sure. Im also thinking about wrapping the headers to get more heat to the pipe and out of the eng. compartment.

What do you guys think about this problem? Anybody have experience with this? Im thinking I should wrap the master cylinder, starter, and headers, and drive gently for a few short trips to get my confidence up.

and yes I serviced my Ebrake so I can stop a little bit if I have a problem.

Thanks

Kevin

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madam im adam

It appears you are experiencing one of the main reasons I hate headers...excessive underhood heat.

Did you check the brake line routing, to see if it's next to the header pipe? I don't think the master cylinder is close enough to boil the fluid in there. Maybe a metal shield between the lines and header will resolve the problem.

Remember too, that the improper fuel mixture will create heat, as will a mis-timed engine.

The timing does not have to be retarded much to really heat up the exhaust with headers. At high idle you end up with fuel still burning in the exhaust. This can ruin the headers as well as cooking anything near by. I would stay away from header wrap except for small sections away from the welds to help protect other nearby parts. A sheet metal heat shield for the master is a good idea. Shields are generally better than wraps to protect from header heat, if you can get or make them.