1956 Chevy Exhaust temperature

[mike1954]

I was playing with my infrared thermometer.
I shot the temp on the exhaust manifold where it meets the head. One bank was a little hotter than the other. Did not seem like that big of a deal. The number one cylinder and the number eight cylinder were a lot cooler than the rest. #1 305 deg, #3 544 deg, #5 566, # 7 531 # 2 453 deg, #4 468 deg, #6 420 deg, #8 240 deg.
I took the readings several times with similar result.
Engine was at operating temp. Seems to run ok. Has a little stumble off idle.
I do not understand the temperature variation.
Any ideas??

[Jesse Z]

I think your new thermo gun toy is going to cost you big money on an engine teardown tracking down a problem that doesn't exist, lol!

Were the temps taken at idle? There is notoriously poor fuel distribution at low rpms.

You didn't say what type of engine but I notice both cylinders were at the ends of the heads. If it's a Chevy, the heads are reversible and that would be the same cylinder on the opposite side. Could be just a function of water jacket placement and coolant flow.

[mike1954]

Chevy 350 Vortec heads. Engine idling.
I am not looking to chase a rabbit.
Just thought it was a little strange.