sidepipes and starters
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
From: Savannah Ga.
sidepipes and starters
Just putting on some Hookers and that rear pssgr side pipe comes pretty close to the starter. Does this mean I'm going to start having starter problems from all that heat?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
I have them on my 78' and have not had any heat problems. I did wrap the wires with heat reflective tape just to be safe. Unless you have a wild cam or pull a load, they don't seem to get hot enough to bake the starter. Mine have been on for 4 years.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
You should not have any problems unless the car has been Bubbasized. {backyard engineer} Basically a idiot thinking he could improve what GM has been producing for over 50 years and has had it correct since the first V8 was shoved into them. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
i have headers on my 79 L82 and it did cause hot start problems with the stock starter due to minimal header/starter clearance. installed a gear reduction mini starter (Powermaster Mini XS Torque) and have had no further problems.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
From: Cape Coral FL
sorry for the hijack but if the starter gets hot enough will it not start or like not want to start just keep turning? i notice that when i run my car hard and then stop somewhere and try and start it back up like 2 mins later and it almost doesnt start up??
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,043
Likes: 4
From: Va
Originally Posted by whoodiestyle
sorry for the hijack but if the starter gets hot enough will it not start or like not want to start just keep turning? i notice that when i run my car hard and then stop somewhere and try and start it back up like 2 mins later and it almost doesnt start up??
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Originally Posted by Kalway
I'm running sidepipes with the original starter and long tube headers and haven't had but a few hiccups. Most related to the alternator not charging the battery enough.
You cannot beat the OEM stuff as hard as they try. Mini starters suck, they belong on what they were made for, small 4 cyl low compression imports. Heat soak starter? Every part of the engine gets hot with or without headers. A good OEM starter will crank 600+HP every time as long as the battery is good behind it. And a bad battery will also kill a good starter every time. Damn, sure put a lot of "goods" in those last few sentences.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
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From: San Diego CA
Well, although it was mainly related to the battery getting enough charge. Many of the hiccups I cured by whacking the starter with a wrench a couple of times, then going and turning the key. Apparently it landed on a dead spot a couple of times and there wasn't enough juice to get it to turn past it. Since I've had the new alternater I haven't had the problem. Also since I've tightened the solenoid on. 
Essentially Ironcross is right, hard to beat the OEM starter.
Essentially Ironcross is right, hard to beat the OEM starter.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Originally Posted by Ironcross
You cannot beat the OEM stuff as hard as they try. Mini starters suck, they belong on what they were made for, small 4 cyl low compression imports. Heat soak starter? Every part of the engine gets hot with or without headers. A good OEM starter will crank 600+HP every time as long as the battery is good behind it. And a bad battery will also kill a good starter every time. Damn, sure put a lot of "goods" in those last few sentences.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
Originally Posted by bence13_33
While the OEM starters are good for some applications when you have a high compression engine there really isn't much of a choice but to go with a mini gear reduction starter. On top of that, the reduced weight is reason enough for me. The smaller size also helps keep the starter and wires away from the headers.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio Texas
the poster mentions headers running close to the starter. this is not an OEM setup. mini-starters are smaller, and many can be "clocked" to move them even farther away from the offending heat source (ie headers). in my application i think this may have been a very significant factor in resolving the problem with a mini-starter. also, the remote solenoid overcomes problems with 30+ year old ignition wire that has high internal resistance (also, not an OEM situation). as far as mini-starters being for low compression 4 cylinder engines, not true. most are rated to turn 20:1 compression engines. some top fuelers are using these without problem.