Starter Help
10-21-2015, 10:08 AM
#1
Starter Help
Howdy All,
I put a set of headers on my 85 and the stock starter was to big so I bought a knock off Tilton mini starter from a local speed shop. Well know I have the dreaded heat soak problem were it wont start when its hot so I'm done with that thing! Ive seen where you can use a factory LT1 (I think) mini gear reduction starter but I need to know which one to buy.
Any help would be appreciated!!!
I put a set of headers on my 85 and the stock starter was to big so I bought a knock off Tilton mini starter from a local speed shop. Well know I have the dreaded heat soak problem were it wont start when its hot so I'm done with that thing! Ive seen where you can use a factory LT1 (I think) mini gear reduction starter but I need to know which one to buy.
Any help would be appreciated!!!
10-21-2015, 12:56 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Howdy All,
I put a set of headers on my 85 and the stock starter was to big so I bought a knock off Tilton mini starter from a local speed shop. Well know I have the dreaded heat soak problem were it wont start when its hot so I'm done with that thing! Ive seen where you can use a factory LT1 (I think) mini gear reduction starter but I need to know which one to buy.
Any help would be appreciated!!!
I put a set of headers on my 85 and the stock starter was to big so I bought a knock off Tilton mini starter from a local speed shop. Well know I have the dreaded heat soak problem were it wont start when its hot so I'm done with that thing! Ive seen where you can use a factory LT1 (I think) mini gear reduction starter but I need to know which one to buy.
Any help would be appreciated!!!
Having had the same issue, I will tell you NOT to try a starter blanket but a shield may solve the problem. Agreeing with HR Roy, from our convo two days ago, you want air to reach and cool the starter; distance is your friend.
The other heat-related issue is the much higher underhood temperature from headers, especially not thermally treated in some manner. It is very hard on all those plastic parts, read: electrical connectors.
I'd go so far as to highly recommend R&R of the headers for ceramic coating, for those reasons, possible SOTP performance increase from the improved thermal efficiency (I felt some), plus corrosion elimination with possible better long-term appearance.
Last edited by whalepirot; 10-21-2015 at 01:03 PM.
10-21-2015, 01:06 PM
#3
Team Owner
Could it be the starter? My starter is a Chevy one and I had a Triton one in my car before it was wrecked. So all my cars had headers and no heat soak.
10-21-2015, 01:13 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Headers are shaped differently and some, like my TPIS, are darn close to the starter.
10-21-2015, 01:15 PM
#5
The problem is not with the starter but the heat from the headers. Hopefully, yours are ceramic coated. If not, you can wrap them, as I had done (with the associated paint). Some claimed it would crystalize the metal, but I did not find that to be the case, perhaps due to thet paint, which can be hard to find, keeping moisture out. I've seen very few use it.
Having had the same issue, I will tell you NOT to try a starter blanket but a shield may solve the problem. Agreeing with HR Roy, from our convo two days ago, you want air to reach and cool the starter; distance is your friend.
The other heat-related issue is the much higher underhood temperature from headers, especially not thermally treated in some manner. It is very hard on all those plastic parts, read: electrical connectors.
I'd go so far as to highly recommend R&R of the headers for ceramic coating, for those reasons, possible SOTP performance increase from the improved thermal efficiency (I felt some), plus corrosion elimination with possible better long-term appearance.
Having had the same issue, I will tell you NOT to try a starter blanket but a shield may solve the problem. Agreeing with HR Roy, from our convo two days ago, you want air to reach and cool the starter; distance is your friend.
The other heat-related issue is the much higher underhood temperature from headers, especially not thermally treated in some manner. It is very hard on all those plastic parts, read: electrical connectors.
I'd go so far as to highly recommend R&R of the headers for ceramic coating, for those reasons, possible SOTP performance increase from the improved thermal efficiency (I felt some), plus corrosion elimination with possible better long-term appearance.
10-21-2015, 01:17 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
10-21-2015, 01:20 PM
#7
Team Owner
I DO have TPIS and they are very close which is why I am not sure it isn't the starter.
10-21-2015, 01:21 PM
#8
Mine is not a Tilton but it does look like one!!! I can't remember the brand (Ill post it later ). One of the guys I race with put an LT1 starter in his but he couldn't remember the year.
10-21-2015, 01:22 PM
#9
10-21-2015, 01:29 PM
#10
Team Owner
10-21-2015, 01:30 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
I'd still get a shield that fits with whatever starter you choose. Unlike the warmth-retaining blanket, the shield will deflect some heat, while allowing cooling air in.
Was the engine modified?
Now, what do we do with these blankets? Years ago, folks put foil wrapped foodstuffs on their engines for hot lunches during trips.. maybe....
10-21-2015, 01:38 PM
#12
10-21-2015, 01:39 PM
#13
Oh, right... you said knock-off (mea culpa), so I suppose warranty is just a wish. Very, very little Chinese or Mexican stuff works for long, IMO.
I'd still get a shield that fits with whatever starter you choose. Unlike the warmth-retaining blanket, the shield will deflect some heat, while allowing cooling air in.
Was the engine modified?
Now, what do we do with these blankets? Years ago, folks put foil wrapped foodstuffs on their engines for hot lunches during trips.. maybe....
I'd still get a shield that fits with whatever starter you choose. Unlike the warmth-retaining blanket, the shield will deflect some heat, while allowing cooling air in.
Was the engine modified?
Now, what do we do with these blankets? Years ago, folks put foil wrapped foodstuffs on their engines for hot lunches during trips.. maybe....
10-21-2015, 01:40 PM
#14
Team Owner
Gear reduction. Both in my Firebird with Ceremic coated Tri-Y headers and later Headman while I was planning something else. Then it got wrecked and the engine and trans got put into the Vette. This time with a Chevy starter that was gear reduction also.
10-21-2015, 01:59 PM
#15
Oh, right... you said knock-off (mea culpa), so I suppose warranty is just a wish. Very, very little Chinese or Mexican stuff works for long, IMO.
I'd still get a shield that fits with whatever starter you choose. Unlike the warmth-retaining blanket, the shield will deflect some heat, while allowing cooling air in.
Was the engine modified?
Now, what do we do with these blankets? Years ago, folks put foil wrapped foodstuffs on their engines for hot lunches during trips.. maybe....
I'd still get a shield that fits with whatever starter you choose. Unlike the warmth-retaining blanket, the shield will deflect some heat, while allowing cooling air in.
Was the engine modified?
Now, what do we do with these blankets? Years ago, folks put foil wrapped foodstuffs on their engines for hot lunches during trips.. maybe....
10-21-2015, 02:27 PM
#16
Is yours an L98 if so what year starter did you get ?
10-21-2015, 02:41 PM
#17
Oh, right... you said knock-off (mea culpa), so I suppose warranty is just a wish. Very, very little Chinese or Mexican stuff works for long, IMO.
I'd still get a shield that fits with whatever starter you choose. Unlike the warmth-retaining blanket, the shield will deflect some heat, while allowing cooling air in.
Was the engine modified?
Now, what do we do with these blankets? Years ago, folks put foil wrapped foodstuffs on their engines for hot lunches during trips.. maybe....
I'd still get a shield that fits with whatever starter you choose. Unlike the warmth-retaining blanket, the shield will deflect some heat, while allowing cooling air in.
Was the engine modified?
Now, what do we do with these blankets? Years ago, folks put foil wrapped foodstuffs on their engines for hot lunches during trips.. maybe....
10-21-2015, 03:16 PM
#18
Race Director
Member Since: Jan 2003
Location: Summerland B.C. Canada
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I am using the stock 86 starter with Hedman Elite headers and no issues with the starter's size or starting problems. 9 years and counting.
Maybe go back to stock starter
Maybe go back to stock starter
10-21-2015, 03:22 PM
#19
Team Owner
10-23-2015, 11:36 AM
#20
I installed a 92-96 LT1 mini starter from Advance auto and it bolted up just fine. But the solenoid is back and higher up so all the cables are a couple of inches to short. Does anyone know what the positive battery cable connects to besides the starter solinoid ? Its so tight I can't see, Iwas thinking of buying a longer cable and rerouting it.