Starter Issues - Heat Soak

[par4tom]

Yesterday the weather got up into the high 80's here in Central California and I was getting my truck ready for one of the local shows this upcoming weekend in Fresno, doing some tuning and carburetor adjustments.

After running the engine for about 30 minutes, I shut it off and tried to turn it over again and all I got was click, click. Nothing!!

I have a SBC 383 using the 2 1/2" center dump manifolds. The starter is a professionally rebuilt, cast-iron high torque model that GM used back in the 60's and it bolts onto the bell-housing and not the block. I had tried one of the mini-starters but gave up as I couldn't get it aligned.

I wish I could say that this is the first time this heat soak problem has come up but the problem goes back over 35 years, according to my dad. He has done a heat shield wrap on it himself and the results were marginal and unpredictable.

I am going to change over to a Powermaster 9112 type starter, upgrade the cables to a 00 gauge, multi-strand wire direct from the battery and then install a 30 amp relay with 8 gauge wire from the ignition switch. Hope to have it running by Friday.

I'm looking for input on this process and mainly concerned with how to align this mini-starter to my 168 tooth flex plate (I am running a 4 speed manual).

Any horror stories and/or lessons learned with starter issues is appreciated...cuz getting stuck on the side of the road sucks!!!

Tom