1972corvette454

1972 Corvette 454 / 4 speed. Starting issue when Hot
Need your help please and Thank you.
When I start the Corvette up in the morning, or when it's cold, cranks over no issue whatsoever. Starts fine.

When I drive the corvette no problems.
If I have to stop for gas, I of course shut her down.

But when it's time to re-start, the starter feels like not enough juice, turns over slowly then after a few seconds cranks over as if no problem.

(Battery is New with correct Cold starting Amperage)

I heard the issue may be due to the location of the starter on big block corvettes, which causes the starter to get too hot.

If I let the car cool off for a while no issue, cranks over real fast.

I still have the starter heat shield installed.

Question is what is the problem? Starter may need to be replaced?
Is this a common problem with the big block corvettes?

Thanks again as always appreciate responses and solutions
Regards
Vic

bashcraft

I had this problem once a long time ago. I replaced the solenoid and it's been fine ever since.

jnb5101

Check the battery connections, and especially the ground wire connections-crossmember and the frame to engine block connections.

mrichi

I think it might be your starter, if its original you may need to replace it

ThePabst

Typical GM issue: Two ways to cure the problem. Install a new, modern (not a reman or nos) starter and/or install a... the... heat shield it came with. These shields usually gets tossed over time. Bad move.

The cause? The armature swells when heated and binds, also, when real hot, the windings in the stater builds resistance, double trouble... ALL late 60's through 70's chevys do this.

mrichi

I had the same problem the starter was original,it had a crack in the casing had to replace it

1972corvette454

Also my Starter is the 1108400. Do you know what the correct part number for the solenoid? 1114344? There are so many available with different part numbers on E-bay.
Thanks
Vic

ronarndt

The starter in the NOM 454 in my 68 convert has the same hot starting symptoms as your car. Not bad enough yet for me to fix it. My heat shield was discarded by the PO. The explanation by ThePabst is right on. If you use one of the newer design starters- especially one with a built-in gear reduction- it will solve the problem. They are also smaller and get everything farther away from the exhaust manifold.

bstedman

I had starter problems in my 71 454 for years in the 1970s and 80s and tried all of the cheap easy ways to fix it. 90% of the time it was the solenoid.

I did finally find a heat shield and put that on and it made the solenoid last longer. I also replaced the starter at one point with a rebuilt one and that was a bust...eventually purchased a new one and have not had anymore problems.

ZZZZZZ

Possible heat soak with the starter add a higher timing setting and its pretty much whatyou describe check heat shield and starter then timing setting

Alwyn678

Worked for me on my SB

BLUE1972

JEGS has a starter heat shield for big blocks it works great. Put it on a friends 72 - 454...

cardo0

Just try a forum and or Google search for "chevy starter Hot Start problems". This problem is addressed frequently and plenty enough already posted.

Good luck.

ajrothm

Verify the timing is set correctly as well if you haven't already done this.. Too much initial timing will make for hard starts when it's all hot.

Jebbysan

Unless originality is an issue.....throw the stock starter out and buy a CVR or comparable unit......a permanent magnet style. And not one of those cookie cutter $100 mini high torque units.....those are not reliable.
CVR, Tilton, Powermaster are excellent....I gravitate toward the CVR and will not own a car without one after the trouble I have had.
Plus they are about 20 lbs. lighter!

Jebby

Easy Mike

Yep. The problem is usually not the actual starter.

Big2Bird

I installed the Tilton. Very nice piece. Very light indeed.

Kid Vette

I agree, just install a modern PMGR (permanent magnet, gear reduction) starter. If you set your initial timing per performance recommendations you'll usually end up at 14-18 degrees. The old starters just can't handle it.

LS4 PILOT

The part that made my old 74 start and spin like a 350 ci was replacing the battery cables ......with original GM high quality cables , not sure if they still sell them for C3 .

40 year old cables build up internal resistance . So no matter how great they look plastic coating is hiding the truth. You can shine the terminals and clean the frame connections all day long . But if the cables are building up resistance you are not getting best possible result.

Also......the clutch safety switch under the dash ....yes the one that is impossible to reach also go .....weak .....the high current builds up carbon and thus increases the resistance of the contacts , making these switches act funny . Look at the size wire running though this switch ....it carries heavy load.

I owned several C3 when they were 1-2 years old . I had no starting issues and I lived at the beach and itwas hotter than the throws of hell. But the overall all system , wires , switches , were new . Other **** goes bad besides batteries and starters .

I had my starter and solenoid rebuilt by the old man Perkle 30 years ago . It still runs great. But , the new cables just made an amazing difference. Unfortunately everybody ignores them and blames all the bolt on components .

Stop blaming batteries and replacing them for no reason.