Headers & hard, hot starting- Solutions?

hunterhicks · May 15, 2008

Howdy folks, I have a 289 A code 65 gt convertible- starts well enough when it's cold.
When it has been driven for a bit, and I turn it off to go into a store for 5 minutes, then come out to fire it up, it's... angry.

It turns the starter- barely. If I wait 30 minutes, it fires up like normal.

I'm 95% sure it's because of the Tri-Y headers- they run RIGHT next to the starter (.5 inches)

Now, what does the populous do about this? Do I just have a worn out starter? Is the heat always going to be a problem? There are thousands of Tri-Y's installed- how do people deal with this?

Also, I've heard that rebuilt ford starters are questionable- how is your experience with getting it rebuilt by a local starter/alt shop? (never done that. D/FW suggestions?)

Thanks!

10secgoal · May 15, 2008

Your best, best bet would be a mini starter, or one of a 90 mustang because of it's size with heat shield. You may try heat shield first and see if it works by itself. That would be the cheapest route.

valley firearms · May 15, 2008

same problem

I am having the same damn problem. I never had the problem until I installed the 349 with a weiand 174. The supercharger makes the exhaust so much hotter, just ask my new plug wires You described my symptoms exactly. I purchased a DEI Versa shield ( it's a blanket or wrap) but have not installed it yet. I was also given a heat shield that is metallic looking. I did install that and it seemed to help a little. I'm hoping the versa shield will add just what is needed. I was also thinking that my alternator was not charging my battery enough but after reading your post I'm pretty sure we have the same problem.

iskwezm · May 16, 2008

I had the same problems with my tri-y's.I tried a shield for the starter didnt work.Just bought a cheap-e repacement starter, has been on the car now for about 12 years.

htwheelz67 · May 16, 2008

it depends on your initial timing, if you have a cam and big carb you have to run more initial timing and that can cause hot start problems. If you have a vacuum advance dist, recurve it and hook it up to full vacuum, so the timing will be retarted at start and you can run more initial. If its mech, you may need a start retard. I have had this prob over and over and that was my cure.

oz · May 16, 2008

This could have nothing to do with it but make sure the cables that go to your starter are new. They may look fine but when old cables get hot, their resistance goes way up. Usually the copper has coroded inside the casing. I've had this problem on 2 cars in the past - one of which was much newer than the Mustang.

D.Hearne · May 16, 2008

The problem is the old field coils in the starter. Get a new starter with new field coils and you'll have no heat soak issues. I run tri-Y's on my Ranger's 5.0 and it's never failed to start from header heat.

hunterhicks · May 17, 2008

Fixed

New starter=fixed.

When I pulled the old one off, it had a remanufactured date of 96, so it was ~10 years old.

for $50, I now have a 'lifetime replacement' one.

Side note- DAMN the battery post on the starter is close to the Tri-Y headers- like .25 of an inch!

D.Hearne · May 17, 2008

You could have substituted a newer style (big style)starter with the end tab hot wire connection, that clears the headers.

Headers & hard, hot starting- Solutions?

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