How fast will a starter get the "heat soak" problem?

The starter is bad... and probably was when you changed headers. Chevy has a problem on the headers heating the starter... USUALLY Fords are ok. So get a good starter in there, make sure the engine has a good ground and your Rocking!! Cool??

Just me.................

Thumper

Do you have the mini-starter or the single-wire bigger starter? Almost no-one has problems with heat soak with the mini-starter. If you do have to replace it be sure you put a mini-starter back in instead of just putting the big one back in. Using some gutter flashing and nylon tie wraps I built a very professional-looking heat shield for my starter that keeps it well protected from heat. Really easy to do - just wrapped the starter with a few tie-wraps, then cut the flashing to fit around the starter and secured it with tie wraps. The tie wraps underneath are important as they create an air-space between the flashing and the starter - that's what creates the heat shield.

Michael Yount said:

Do you have the mini-starter or the single-wire bigger starter? Almost no-one has problems with heat soak with the mini-starter. If you do have to replace it be sure you put a mini-starter back in instead of just putting the big one back in. Using some gutter flashing and nylon tie wraps I built a very professional-looking heat shield for my starter that keeps it well protected from heat. Really easy to do - just wrapped the starter with a few tie-wraps, then cut the flashing to fit around the starter and secured it with tie wraps. The tie wraps underneath are important as they create an air-space between the flashing and the starter - that's what creates the heat shield.

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very good idea

I would look elsewhere, like maybe battery or battery cables. Sounds more like it to me...

Icepick said:

My headers have only been on for a couple of months but it seems that my starter is experiencing heat soak, after driving for long periods of times the starter will sometimes barely turn over when the car is still hot or not at all, give it a a couple of secs try again, and it will usually start up. My question is if i replace my starter and this is the heat soak problem, how long should i expect the remanufactured starter to last before it gets heat soaked? The last thing i want to do is replace starters every couple of months.
Thanks

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I would check out the cables and such before I did anything. In 20+ years of Ford trucks and my Capri with near full length headers since 1987, (old style Blackjack units) I have never had a heat soak problem. And that includes stops and starts in 10 hour interstate trips in Mississippi and Florida in August.

I would clean both ends of both battery cables, and the cable that goes from the relay to the starter. Make sure you clean the ground cable attachment point to the engine and the tab that the cable bolts to on the starter. I have upgraded to Walmart no 2 ground cables, but only because they were out of others when I needed one. With a decently sized battery and good charging system, that should be all you need. If the cables check out, the alt is good, then check the battery. Nine times out of ten, the battery is starting to fail. If it checks good, then change the starter. Nearly any rebuilt unit should work. Carquest is my favorite.

I have taken lately, the last ten years or so, to just changing the battery, so that I don't have to waste time testing it. It has worked on about 6 batteries in a row. This was after a store tested the battery and said it was good, and I spent the weekend messing with it. Changed the battery sunday afternoon, and fixed it.

As someone else noted, GM's have more trouble with this because the relay (solenoid) is mounted on the starter and ends up next to most headers. The old style Ford movable pole shoe starter does not have much problem with this.

Anyone interested, I've got a pic of my home-made starter heat shield. PM me with your email address and I'll send you the pic.

Icepick
I had the same problem with my car about a year ago. I replaced the starter and never had a problem with it again. Make sure you go with the mini. If ya go to a parts store ask for a starter from a 91-93, they are the mini's. Hope this helps.

PA Performance sells a kit with everything right down to the zip ties. Includes the wires to upgrade a new ministarter and good instructions for $139. My starter went bad and I bought the kit, even though my car already had the mini starter it seemed like a good price.

Dave