too hot?

[TDX Dogg]

I recently replaced the spark plugs in my X with regular Bosch Platinums gapped at .57. Today I recieved my Jacobs Ultra Fit spark plug wires and installed them. When I started the car it sounded great, revved good too, but when I drove it a little, I heard a burping from around the exhaust. That's not the part that bothered me, even though I would like to fix that. When I stepped out of my X to look at something I noticed my cat on the header underneath was bright orangish-red. That scared the s--- out of me and I turned off the X. What do I do? Do I need a higher temp/better quality set of headers?


my X performance:
K&N FIPK, Granatelli MAS, Apten Chip, Borla Exhaust, hollowed out cats behind headers, Bosch Platinums, Jacobs Ultra Fit Wires

 

[TDX Dogg]

One other thing, the exhaust is a white cloud and smells like gasoline so I'm thinking not all the fuel is getting burned, but with new plugs and wires, I figured that problem would be solved.

 

[tenikiwon]

hrmmm... Don't really know, but just to throw out some ideas. You O2 sensor might be falty thinking there isn't too much gas coming out when there really is?

 

[Nate1]

Well, my first word of advice: STOP DRIVING IT! If your cat is glowing red from heat, that is a SERIOUS fire hazard... I dont really know what could be causing such an extreme problem that your cats would glow red because of such an excess of unburndt fuel. You did wire your plugs up in the right order, right?

Sheesh, sounds like quite the problem.
-----Nate

 

[burnin_up]

Ive had red hot manifolds before, when I took everything behind them off of a 92 Chevy 2500 with a 454. Was a lot of fun and real nosiy until they decided to warp and crack. Oops. Put on some headers, and didnt have that problem again.
But, is it your header that is/are red, or the cat. Both header and cat? Just one side or both? With your cats gutted, they are going to get a lot more heat dispersed to the outside of them. You should just get rid of them if youre going to gut them. Not really fooling anyone with them still there. I agree with a faulty O2 sensor. Sounds like a good place to start. Remove and check/clean all your contacts in your plugs/wires. Did you get a check engine light at all?

 

[andyp_4.0]

Its been my experience that when the catylitic converter glows red hot that it is clogged. So I'm thinking you might need to look at the cats.
Andy P.

 

[TDX Dogg]

I checked the plugs again, one of my new plugs was cracked on the porcelain. Bought a new plug, gapped them to .060 and put the Jacobs wires on, everything runs great, a LOT better than before.