In a what I would think to be is a high horsepower engine,
a visibly glowing manifold wouldn't be uncommon.
Internal combustion gasoline engine are only roughly around 30% thermally efficient.
so when you make for example 250 kw of power output,
you generate 500 kw of waste energy in heat.
Roughly.
That's why people wrap their exhausts and heat shield in all kinds of ways I high performance cars
But a EGT gauge would be a good idea so you can actually tell if it's too hot