engine temp

[DrC]

I needed to baffle my side pipes due to noise restrictions in my state. It needs to be less than 98dbs. I placed baffles in the pipes. My engine temp went from 180-200 to 220 - 240 when sitting still. Should I be concerned? The engine size is a 390.

Rich

[RICK LAKE]

DrC Rich the stock era pipes should pass the NJ inspection without any problem, you need covers on them to protect your legs from burns. There is a glass pack type muffler in the side pipe. If you are running a large cam it may cause this high noise problem. The more you cause a resistance in the exhaust the hotter the motor will run. Try E-Mail Chaplin and see how his NJ inspection was. Use the baffles for the inspection and then save them for going back each year. Find a private station for inspections with out the BS of state. Rick L

[DrC]

Thanks Rick. The car is registered in Delaware. The pipes I have were the ones supplied by the fine folks at ERA. What are your thought of allowing the car to run hot temporarily?

[RICK LAKE]

DrC Rich Call Peter or Bob and ask about maken a QUIET set of pipes. I have a street set of pipes that came with the car and a race set of pipes for the track. To run the motor for SHORT TERM 5 minute or less OK. If you have the dual fans in the front I would turn these fans on. You may want to look into the little bildge fans and mount them so they pull air out from under the hood. Couple of guys are running them with high HP power. They have a kit for the FIA cars but this is for foot box air being cooled. Boater world sell 4" fans for about $22.00 You would need a switch,fuses for each fan(2), relays. They are water proof. You aim the exhaust out the side louvers and it will cool down the motor 10-15 degrees. 280cfm per fan. You may want to change the oil after the 240 temp. When you get this hot you are burning the oil. This is just MY OPINION. If you want to talk call me at 732-254-3536 after 8:00pm any night. Rick L.

[DrC]

Thanks Rick, I may just be giving you a call.

[Lew Ledyard]

Rich:

Call David Kirkham. KMP now makes a set of quieter side pipes out of stainless steel. They are a "Delaware" option. They are quiet and the car will run cool.

You also might want to call Steve Hague at PolarStar engineering in Newark, DE in case you need some help. He has worked on a few KMPs with FEs. It is nice to have someone close by that does good work.