Starter problems

[johnrem46]

First let me say I am new here and do not know much about cars.
I have just purchased a 1974 with a 350 CI engine. The engine has been rebuilt and some what modified there are headeres on the car. My problem is when the engine is hot the car will not start. The started will not even crank the engine. Nothing happens.. When it cools down for about 15 minutes or so the car starts fine. I was told this is a problem with a lot of Corvettes. The starter gets heat soaked??? Can anyone tell me about this? Can anyone tell me the fix for this.. Do I need a new starter??

 

[JonM]

The sure fire way to tell if its getting heat soaked is run water on the starter from your hose, when it won't start. It will cool it down immediately. Then see if it starts...I am sure some C-3 folks will come by soon and give you a fix.

 

[Red73BB]

johnrem46, Welcome to CAC

I had the same problem on my '73. Two things I did that made a big difference was...
install a good heat shield.
When I bought my car it had a AutoZone starter, these aren't made the intents heat. I went with a AC delco that was suppost to be on the car.

after two years my car starts every time, It still starts hard after I've driven it a distance, compared to a cold start, but still will start.

 

[72VETTE454]

I had the same problem with my '72 big block, which kicks out a ton of heat under the hood. The best way to solve this, IMHO, is to install a remote starter solenoid. The starter is not the problem, it is the solenoid mounted on the starter that can't take the heat. I bought mine from Summit for about $25. Then you mount it away from the heat. I hid mine behind the right front wheel well area. It works great. But anywhere away from the hot exhaust will work fine. Good luck.

 

[AKRAY4PLAY]

you need a heat shield or mini starter. the mini's work well, but cost a bit more. heat shields are a bandaid on the problem when you have headers. you might get away with heat wrapping the headers and installing a good heat shield, but i would just get a mini starter and end all your troubles.

 

[joe1975]

Hey 72 what starter do you use for the remote solenoid set up

 

[srs244]

in my opinion it is definitely a heat problem. i would NOT however wrap the headers in an attempt to solve the heat issue around the starter area. it has a tendency to overheat the headers and cause damage to them. the "factory" starter (OEM) type should be installed and a heat shield wrap wouldn't hurt.

steve

 

[Bob Chadwick]

You can also do the official GM "field fix" which is to remove the solenoid and there is a return spring inside. Clip a couple of windings off of the return spring and re-install the solenoid. That should take care of the problem. I don't remember exactly how many windings you should remove. You can do a search for "starter" or "heat soak" and you should come across another reply I posted that has more detail.

Russ

Even the gone members continue to help.

 

[72VETTE454]

Joe,
I just have a production starter with the remote solenoid. The solenoid that comes originally with the starter, stays on the starter. The solenoid that gets mounted remotely, is a different solenoid that comes with the kit. BTW, I had the production heat shield in place before the remote solenoid, and still had hot cranking issues.

 

[joe1975]

Thanks for the info!

 

[wallyknoch]

"ALL" starters get hot, I dont care what the engine is, a small 350 or a huge 454 LS7 with or without headers. If you want to fix it, put a heavy duty starter on it and install a larger cold cranking battery.