I have owned a 1971 454 Stingray for 17 years. I have burned up several starters and have always had heat-sink issues with the starter not wanting to easly crank the engine after a few weeks or months of use. I've used an original styled heavy duty delco starter that weighed a ton&heavy duty Starter Solenoid with stock stainless steel heat shield, mini-starter made in china, discount auto parts rebuilt starter, all failed after limited use. When I remove them they look fine but they must be burned up inside. I test them out of the car and they fail to work. I've been looking at these links below. Anyone have any good ideas. I hate to blow 250 bucks on a pricey hi-po starter just to have the same outcome as I did with these cheaper units. I've been using the staggered bolt starters because the inline bolt starters appear to use a hole in the block that is never been used and has years worth of grease and dirt stuck up in it. Also I like using the trans-converter cover and feel the inline bolt starter would not match the cover well.

I like this one best.
http://www.partzfinder.com/Chevy_SB_...vr-5323-os.htm

Second choice.

http://www.partzfinder.com/Chevy_SB_...r-5323-mos.htm

These are some I've been looking at.

http://www.murraysauto.com/store/mySearchResult.cfm?parentcategoryid=&pro ductID=14011&showDetail=1&categoryID=0|& vendoridtodisplay=0&filterFor=starter&co llection=

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBr...rameters=Chevy

http://www.partzfinder.com/High_Torq...pfp-6449-n.htm

http://www.dbelectrical.com/ministar...istarter.shtml

http://www.car-stuff.com/chevystarter.htm

http://www.tommyjohnsons.com/catalog...0b40eb4667fb93

Interesting starter saving add ons.

http://www.behrents.com/Merchant2/4....ating-products

http://www.oldengine.org/unfaq/solenoid.htm

 

I have the same problem but with a big block Chevelle....re-built the starter & wrapped it in Thermotech's starter heat shield! It works ok. The Corvette is even tighter space wise & may create more heat..I am not sure how it will work for you. Just a thought.

 

What type of starter was it?

 

Have you tried shimming your starter out, it sounds like you might be fring with amps. Perhaps being to close to the flywheel is adding extra stress and driving the amp load up. Just a thought.

 

i'm using a pro form hi torque mininstater from Scoggins Dickey $149 and it works fine and clears the headers easily....i think these shields and wraps are "nonsensical" to me since they prevent any real cool down options after the engine is turned off.....i like the ministaters that hvae better air flow around them since they are smaller....

 

Thanks for the info. I am going to look for a starter that will put up with my BIG BLOCKS warm ways! I have a grave yard of 3 dead starters. They are toast.

 

Yes and it got toasted anyway. 454 + corvette = HOT SINK STARTER!