Starter slow when hot. Which one do I need?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,023
Likes: 1,181
From: La Mesa CA
Starter slow when hot. Which one do I need?
The starter on my 71 big block barely turns over when hot.
Do I need to change the starter or the solenoid or both?
Assuming I do, which one should I get?
I have a 71 with a 69 396 block and a 73 muncie LOL
So I go to the catalogs and see different starters for big blocks
depending on what trans and block it has.
Confused in San Diego
Do I need to change the starter or the solenoid or both?
Assuming I do, which one should I get?
I have a 71 with a 69 396 block and a 73 muncie LOL
So I go to the catalogs and see different starters for big blocks
depending on what trans and block it has.
Confused in San Diego
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,406
Likes: 8,212
From: Napa Valley California
I'm looking at starters for my 496 build.
Powermasters was recommended to me by the speed/machine shop I'm working with and several people on this forum.
I called Powermasters who recommended their 9400, 9426 or their 9012,
They are light weight, high speed, high torque mini starters rated for up to 14 to 1 and 16 to 1 compression ratios with hitachi solenoids.
Check out their website, call their customer service reps and check their prices and ratings at Summit Racing.
Powermasters was recommended to me by the speed/machine shop I'm working with and several people on this forum.
I called Powermasters who recommended their 9400, 9426 or their 9012,
They are light weight, high speed, high torque mini starters rated for up to 14 to 1 and 16 to 1 compression ratios with hitachi solenoids.
Check out their website, call their customer service reps and check their prices and ratings at Summit Racing.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,502
Likes: 1,510
From: Little Rock AR
If it turns over slow, the solenoid is good.
Check the ignition timing. Make sure the cables are still good and clean connections. Battery needs to be in good shape and fully charged.
Check the ignition timing. Make sure the cables are still good and clean connections. Battery needs to be in good shape and fully charged.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 285
Likes: 36
From: Cedar Park TX
Very common BBC issue, like stated above, insulate the starter and put on larger battery cables.
Chevy made a heat shield just for this issue. I use an aftermarket heat shield that wraps around the starter. But going to larger battery cables made the biggest improvement.
Or, get a gear reduction starter (power master is also my choice), wrap it AND put larger cables on. the forget about it
Chevy made a heat shield just for this issue. I use an aftermarket heat shield that wraps around the starter. But going to larger battery cables made the biggest improvement.
Or, get a gear reduction starter (power master is also my choice), wrap it AND put larger cables on. the forget about it
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
The BOSCH SR8552N starter should work. It came in mid 90's trucks on both the SB and BB (7.4L) engines and is a staggered bolt pattern used with a 168 tooth flywheel or flexplate. It should work better than the original style starter that car came with. You can use the Bosch part which is about $150-$200 or get a generic one that is very similar for about $60. Many people have had great luck with the cheaper versions.
I believe the battery cables you'd want are AC Delco 2SD95XA for the positive cable and AC Delco 2SD30X for the negative cable.
I believe the battery cables you'd want are AC Delco 2SD95XA for the positive cable and AC Delco 2SD30X for the negative cable.
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,057
Likes: 421
From: BC
One thing to remember is that with the earlier stock points ignition systems you have a 12v. wire running from the starter to the coil to supply 12v for starting only. Stock starters were 3 pole to accommodate the starter to coil wire but the mini starters are 2 pole. If you are running a HEI, Pertronix or aftermarket ignition you are Ok. I have a clockable Powermaster on my 69 and really like it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
A high probability is that the large grounding wire for the starter and engine is either missing or in bad shape (corroded terminals or disintegrating wire inside the insulation). That wire should run from the right side frame area to the right side motor mount & front starter bracket.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 210
From: Detroit MI
I've had the same problem with my car with SBC lately. I found my positive battery cable rubbing on the driveshaft (relocated battery to passenger side), and had worn through the insulation and some of the copper is gone. Cable or starter or both?
Question for Lars, my problem seemed to start right around the time I added vacuum advance; does the engine pull enough vacuum during cranking to pull in the vac advance (HEI w/AR22 can)? Or is it more likely that it was just coincidence?
Question for Lars, my problem seemed to start right around the time I added vacuum advance; does the engine pull enough vacuum during cranking to pull in the vac advance (HEI w/AR22 can)? Or is it more likely that it was just coincidence?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,046
Likes: 675
From: FL
GM increased cable size in '72 to help solve this problem. I made my own replacement cables for my '75 a couple of years ago. Made a huge difference.
I replaced all my cables with 1/0 cable from West Marine. Flexible enough and has a nice coating. I did the battery positive, battery negative, and engine grounding cable. I also added a terminal block by the starter because I had some extra wires (MSD, fans) attached at the starter. I then added a 1/0 cable from the terminal to starter. Total cost was less than the factory cables.
More info:
Spent like $80 to get the thicker cable at West Marine. It is made for boats and is nice and flexible. Made 4 cables and even used the tool at West Marine to crimp the terminals.
- Positive to new terminal block ~8 feet
- Terminal block to starter ~1 foot
- Negative to frame ~2.5 feet
- Engine to frame ~.5 foot
Used 1/0 gauge wire.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/ancor...04?recordNum=7
I replaced all my cables with 1/0 cable from West Marine. Flexible enough and has a nice coating. I did the battery positive, battery negative, and engine grounding cable. I also added a terminal block by the starter because I had some extra wires (MSD, fans) attached at the starter. I then added a 1/0 cable from the terminal to starter. Total cost was less than the factory cables.
More info:
Spent like $80 to get the thicker cable at West Marine. It is made for boats and is nice and flexible. Made 4 cables and even used the tool at West Marine to crimp the terminals.
- Positive to new terminal block ~8 feet
- Terminal block to starter ~1 foot
- Negative to frame ~2.5 feet
- Engine to frame ~.5 foot
Used 1/0 gauge wire.
https://www.westmarine.com/buy/ancor...04?recordNum=7
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
The starter on my 71 big block barely turns over when hot.
Do I need to change the starter or the solenoid or both?
Assuming I do, which one should I get?
I have a 71 with a 69 396 block and a 73 muncie LOL
So I go to the catalogs and see different starters for big blocks
depending on what trans and block it has.
Confused in San Diego
Do I need to change the starter or the solenoid or both?
Assuming I do, which one should I get?
I have a 71 with a 69 396 block and a 73 muncie LOL
So I go to the catalogs and see different starters for big blocks
depending on what trans and block it has.
Confused in San Diego
Usually when heat is involved in starting issue with a car the issue is a ground/resistance issue. As the cable heats up it creates more resistance and less of a ground. (In simple terms). I've had customers that have purchased heat shields, starter wraps, new starters and every other gobble-d gook you can think of to resolve this issue only to find out the issue was the main ground from the batter to the frame or the ground at the bellhousing.
If you inspect and do these things and you still have the issue then I'd possibly change the starter.
IMHO,
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Oct 18, 2018 at 04:27 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,247
Likes: 210
From: Detroit MI
Bumping back up with a question. Last year I was dealing with a slow start condition, so over the winter I replaced my positive battery cable with 1/0 West Marine cable as SteveG75 suggested. I have not yet replaced the battery-to-frame ground (still using factory small cable), and so far my starter is still slow. Will replacing the battery ground help since I haven't done it yet?
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,046
Likes: 675
From: FL
Bumping back up with a question. Last year I was dealing with a slow start condition, so over the winter I replaced my positive battery cable with 1/0 West Marine cable as SteveG75 suggested. I have not yet replaced the battery-to-frame ground (still using factory small cable), and so far my starter is still slow. Will replacing the battery ground help since I haven't done it yet?
I am fighting some starter issues myself these days but I think my issue is that the battery is dropping too much on start. 2 yrs 8 months old. Just doesn't get driven enough. If voltage drops too much, the FAST XFI resets and then fires a spark at the wrong time, causing a nice kick back. Has a tendency to bend starter bolts that then causes grinding issues.
Last edited by SteveG75; Apr 4, 2019 at 01:54 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 81,241
Likes: 3,063
From: altered state
St. Jude Donor '05
x2 cables really make a difference. Corrosion can get under the shielding where you cant see it and cause problems
Same problem on my 02 1500 they are original..time to upgrade. Good grounds help everything
Same problem on my 02 1500 they are original..time to upgrade. Good grounds help everything