Been running headers with no tubes for about a year now with no problems. There are plenty of other vehicles out there that don't have them stupid tubes.

 

"Been running headers with no tubes for about a year now with no problems. There are plenty of other vehicles out there that don't have them stupid tubes".

There are people who drive drunk with no problems, and there are plenty of vehicles out there with bald tires.

That doesn't make either one of them a particularly good idea.

 

I use a 6 inch piece of surgical tubing to do the same thing on the advice of somebody on here, pennies, works like a champ getting in to bad angles, and won't let your cross thread.

 

The positioning is no different than most any other v-8 engine, and also, having them actually contacting the plug boots probably doesn't help matters any. After all, the metal is going to pick up heat from the exhaust manifolds, and the cylinder heads, and hold it against the plug boots.

We have many many members that have removed them, and had zero problems with boots getting burnt, or anything else of that nature. Quite frankly, I don't think it makes a difference either way. NOT having them there though, prevents them from accumulating assorted crap, and trapping it there, until it can escape into the combustion chambers, when you remove the plugs.

Six of one, half dozen of the other..... Pick yer poison.

 

There are vehicles from the factory that last for years without them. Are you saying it's a design flaw? It's a metal tube so the exhaust heats the tube and then it's now as hot as the exhaust. Then you have your wire encased in heat. Where as without the tube air is able to blow through and cool the wires down.

I know which option sounds better to me

 

I don't see not having them as necessarily a "design flaw", any more than not having seat belt pre-tensioners is a "design flaw". But I see both as a nice touch.

"It's a metal tube so the exhaust heats the tube and then it's now as hot as the exhaust. Then you have your wire encased in heat".

That is absolutely false. They reflect much of the heat away from the plug boot, and what they absorb is readily carried away by air flow. There is no way in hell that they become as hot as the exhaust manifold.

And they don't touch the boot itself; there's an air gap that will allow most of the relatively small amount of heat that radiates from them to be carried away by air currents. What the shields do is to protect the boots from radiant heat from the manifolds. It is not "six of one and a half-dozen of another".

Radiant heat is very resistant to air flow, and readily warms objects that are close to its source. There's a good reason that there are heat shields near catalytic converters, manifolds, header pipes, and mufflers. Do you guys remove all of them too because they make working on things easier?

 

The plug boots are indeed in contact with the metal tubes.

Grab yourself a temp gun. (neat little tool, point it at something, and it tells you the temp) Check the manifolds, the tubes, the head, etc. Record your findings.

Now, pick one cylinder, doesn't matter which, do the same thing. All temps will be the same, except...... the plug boot, which will be a bit cooler.

Don't believe me? Try it yourself.

 

The most relevant readings would be those taken while the vehicle is being driven, when the heat shields are subjected to the most moving air. Being made of thin steel, there is no way they will be the same temperature as a cast iron manifold.

But even with the vehicle at rest, there is no way they can possibly be the exact same temperature as the manifold. The simple fact that they reflect some of the heat from the manifold, rather than absorb 100% of it, makes this self-evident in my opinion.

I'll take some readings when I get a chance, and if I'm wrong, I'll send you a certificate good for a TSA "Enhanced Pat-Down", redeemable at the airport of your choice.

 

They aren't the same temp as the manifolds, no. But, they are warmer than their surroundings. The plug boots being cooler, even at rest, is my point. (For some silly reason, I don't really have a desire to have someone drive my truck around, with me under the hood. )

As for the "Pat-Down".... only if the guard is female, cute, and smiles when she "handles my junk". LOLOL

 

Honestly, I think it really depends on what kind of wires you use, what brand, and how hard and often you drive the truck. I think that if you drive it hard and have crappy wires, you might end up with dried out plug boots.


Anyone agree?

*edit*

HeyYou, nice.....just don't let her tase you.