Chevy Starter Issue

[pismorat]

My dad has a '60 Vette that was having the typical Chevy starter issue with it getting hot and then not starting. We did a remote solenoid on the frame and wired it up and it seemed to be better until last weekend when it did it again. Here is the wiring diagram, does anything look wrong? Anyone have any ideas about if it could be the starter windings and not the solenoid? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[noJeepshere]

Go buy a new starter solenoid for your Vette. Why run two solenoids? That's just more resistance, and will eventually make it worse. Get one made for heavy duty applications, and wrap it in a heat shield.

 

[pismorat]

That's the thing, we've replaced the original solenoid twice and have always kept it wrapped and had a metal shield on the whole assembly. That's why we went this route. At this point its tough to figure out what to do next.

 

[lectric80]

The next time it acts up, take a hammer and have your dad turn the key while you tap the starter with the hammer. I know it is a Vette, but this will tell you if it is an internal starter problem. It may just be getting enough carbon dust on the comm to prevent it from starting when it lands right. Or it may have a bad spot on the comm.

 

[Goose]

Last time I had starter issues I cured it by getting genuine AC-Delco starter.
I went through 2 back 2 back that were aftermarket "good" ones with lifetime warranty before going OEM.

 

[scrappyk5]

definatly go with an ac delco model.
also, alot of times its the armature that is getting hot, not the solinoid.
I would replace the whole thing. plus. I have seen people actually put a piece of aluminum between the starter and the header/manifold. It will work betta than wrap.

 

[wasted wages]

For the life of me I can't see why people still jack with old direct drive delco starters.

Log on to jeg's or summit,,,buy a gear reduction type starter and be done with it.

I've never had a hot start problem with my starter on a blown big block with hooker pro comp headers since I installed one of these 5 years ago....
Less amp draw,,compact,,lightweight,,and will whip over a 14:1 motor with no problem

 

[Burt4x4]

Yup, get a gear reduction or small starter, you can get one at a parts house just ask for like a '98 or '99 GM, the parts house small startes are the same as after market ones without the price mark up..be prepaird to spend 100 or so. I run a remote & small starter on my BBC w/Thorleys heating up and all works great!

Another thing is your batt cables, clean, new, 2ga or bigger, solid clean grounds, no loose connections
Good Luck!
Burt

 

[Cowboy_80]

Starter issues... Welcome to the world of Chevy. It will leak oil, and the starter will fry. If the oil leak is small, leave it alone. Fixing it will only make a bigger one somewhere else. Buy lifetime warranty starters. The 7th one is cheap with that warranty.

If you don't like changing starters, buy a gear reduction rig and be happy. Costs more up front, but it means less time on your back.

For new wiring like Burt mentioned above, use a couple of welding lead cables. They're perfect.

 

[bigblock72]

Go with a newer style gear reduction starter either a LT1 style or a truck style depending on which flywheel you have. They are relatively cheap and will eliminate your problems. I would then remove the ferd solenoid and install a 30-40 amp relay to run the chevy solenoid to help keep the clutter down in the smallish vette engine bay.

 

[vortec]

i saw a little heat sink with fins and everything for starters on some performance forum. but i think a reduction gear starter is a good way to go.

Starter issues... Welcome to the world of Chevy. It will leak oil, and the starter will fry.

more like welcome to the world of motor vehicles. i've probably seen every common brand kill a starter. changing one on a honda can be a real pain. my friend's solara was no fun, either. makes holding a 30lb starter above my head under the blazer seem fun. if i have to change it again (old one filled up with mud offroad) it would be easier since my diff is now 4" farther from the starter.

 

[pismorat]

The gear reduction is what we thought about, then we ordered one and it was wrong. This starter bolts to the bellhousing, not the block and Summit didn't have the right kind of one...this was option two. We will check it out some more and maybe then go for something like that. This Vette is 100% stock also (minus the hidden Furd solenoid), so putting a gear reduction starter almost feels like it ruins the nostalgia of it

 

[bigblock72]

You're probably not going to find one that bolts to the bellhousing. You should be able to bolt an LT1 style starter to the block and have it work ok.

I don't see any harm in changing something that is a simple bolt on, especially if it makes the car more reliable. Not much fun in having to push the car home. The other possibility is the starter is junk so maybe try getting another stock replacement, I have had cars that I've had to put 5 or 6 different starters on before I got a good one.

 

[greg mgm]

I had the same problems with my 454 truck. After I installed a high quality gear reduction starter I haven't had a problem since.....and it's been 9 years. Forget originality.....go for reliability.