Exhaust/brake line too close?

[Akimbeau]

My FIA street version was delivered today. I'm in the process of checking things over. I did find what I thought was a close fit between the brake lines and exhaust collector. The gap is only 3/8" between the two. Does any body else feel I'll be cooking my brake fluid? Is this a standard ERA placement? It has a 351 with ERA headers and undercar exhaust. I tried uploading a photo but something's amiss as it keeps failing.

Kim

[Tommy]

It sounds too close for comfort to me. I was concerned about radiant heat on my brake lines so I sheathed them in heat shield sleeves. It's been so long I've forgotten the brand or source.

[Akimbeau]

Originally Posted by Tommy

It sounds too close for comfort to me. I was concerned about radiant head on my brake lines so I sheathed them in heat shield sleeves. It's been so long I've forgotten the brand or source.

So these shields are make for brake lines? Do you think they work well enough that I wouldn't have to move the lines?

[Akimbeau]

Photo of brake line/exhaust clearance.

[Gaz64]

Yes, too close.

Some form of heat shield recommended.

[1795]

You definitely want to put some heat whiled on there.

[Tommy]

OK, here's the short answer: I'd move that line.

Here's the long answer: First, it appears things have been that way for a long time. If the previous owner didn't notice a problem, maybe its OK for normal use. I wouldn't trust it for a track day event where the exhaust gets much hotter and the brakes are more critical and used harder.

Heat can be transferred in several ways. Radiant heat is transferred by radiation and is what you feel when you stand a few feet from a hot fire to warm your hands. Convection and conduction are when the hot object warms things around it (e.g., air and metal that touch it) and those things convey that heat to things they touch. A simple sheet of foil can block radiant heat. But that line is surrounded by things that will absorb heat from the header and then conduct heat to it. An insulated sleeve is mostly for blocking radiant heat and won't block much conducted heat. That is why I would move the line if it were my car.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by Tommy

OK, here's the short answer: I'd move that line.

Here's the long answer: First, it appears things have been that way for a long time. If the previous owner didn't notice a problem, maybe its OK for normal use. I wouldn't trust it for a track day event where the exhaust gets much hotter and the brakes are more critical and used harder.

Heat can be transferred in several ways. Radiant heat is transferred by radiation and is what you feel when you stand a few feet from a hot fire to warm your hands. Convection and conduction are when the hot object warms things around it (e.g., air and metal that touch it) and those things convey that heat to things they touch. A simple sheet of foil can block radiant heat. But that line is surrounded by things that will absorb heat from the header and then conduct heat to it. An insulated sleeve is mostly for blocking radiant heat and won't block much conducted heat. That is why I would move the line if it were my car.

Considering the brake line bracket right there I agree with Tommy - It will directly transfer heat to the line. I have used a silicon heat barrier sleeve on some portions of my brake lines where they run a bit close to the mufflers in my undercar exhaust system. It's a thick silicon tube - clear - that I found at McMasters Carr.

You may be able to take that line loose and with a tubing bender - tweak it a little to pick up some additional clearance. Then with some type of heat resistant tubing and isolation at any clamps or brackets - you would probably be fine. Hard to tell from a picture if this is practical or not.

[Akimbeau]

Originally Posted by Tommy

OK, here's the short answer: I'd move that line.

Here's the long answer: First, it appears things have been that way for a long time. If the previous owner didn't notice a problem, maybe its OK for normal use. I wouldn't trust it for a track day event where the exhaust gets much hotter and the brakes are more critical and used harder.

Heat can be transferred in several ways. Radiant heat is transferred by radiation and is what you feel when you stand a few feet from a hot fire to warm your hands. Convection and conduction are when the hot object warms things around it (e.g., air and metal that touch it) and those things convey that heat to things they touch. A simple sheet of foil can block radiant heat. But that line is surrounded by things that will absorb heat from the header and then conduct heat to it. An insulated sleeve is mostly for blocking radiant heat and won't block much conducted heat. That is why I would move the line if it were my car.

That's what I was thinking. I'm pulling the car apart for rust abatement so I'll slide the lines over and shield them. I think the fuel line is bundled with the brake lines as well...vapor lock possibilities for sure...or worse!

[Dangerous Doug]

Check to make sure the engine is level from side-to-side. If the engine is not installed level, the headers will be low on one side and high on the other. The best way I've found for checking this is to place a 4' level on the oil pan and measure each side's space between the level and the frame. A small difference in level translates to a large difference once you get out to the headers.

I recommend checking this first.

I learned this the hard way, incidentally. I installed my first engine and noticed the oil pan looked slightly crooked relative to the frame---not by much, but enough for me to notice it. I had to loosen the mounts and lift the engine and straighten it out. I was much more careful when I later installed my new KC 331.

DD

[Bernica]

What everyone said above! Since you are working on it try to move it and definitely move the fuel line. Then use the heat shielding sleeve material. It comes in different tubing sizes. I used it in my engine bay from the bottoms of the reservoirs (clutch and brake) all the way to their respective cylinders.

Beyond that, another idea might be to try some of the plug wire heat shield sleeves for isolated areas and install it even over the heat shield material. Just a thought.

[Arvin]

I used this stuff on my brake lines where they got close to the hot exhaust. We also use it on industrial applications at work on hydraulic lines to protect them around furances. Works great - not cheap though!

STRATOFLEX FIRE SLEEVE from Aircraft Spruce Europe

[Jaydee]

If you consider how hot your brake calipers get in a race, it must surely get hotter then an exhaust? If you place any sort of tubing or sleeving then you might promote condensation on the outside of you brake lines and you wouldn't be able to check for rust. Even though I would still move the line.
JD