Cooked starter(s)

[chucklbunny]

Hi all,
Look..I know all you guys know one thing, big block mopars with headers cook starters. I must have gone thru 30+ starters in my life with my 69 Superbee, 70 Charger RT and my 69 Roadrunner and I just cooked my first one on my 72 RR clone...I really don't want to have to do a starter every summer.

My question is what is the remedy ? are there heat shields available or do I have to make my own ? is there a better solution ?



Chuck

 

[badlite]

I made a shield out of mirrored stainless steel, and it worked great.

 

[440roadrunner]

That was not my experience. I owned a 69 383 "back then," Hedman headers, and a 70 V code RR with Cyclone headers. I just ran the 'ell out of. I put over 100K on the chassis, but not the same engine. In it's later years it housed a small block and IT had Hedmans on it.. When I sold it it had over 140K on the clock

But between the two RR, the 64 426 Dodge, I don't remember buying more than 1, maybe two starters

How much timing lead you run? How long does it have to crank? Does it "kick back" on the starter, cranking?

 

[chucklbunny]

It runs perfect, not lean - not rich, fires on first crank.

I could understand if it was one car, but ever BB mopar I have had does it...it must be luck.

 

[Yatzee]

I run a Bocsh mini starter wrapped in a tubular heat shield blanket and have had no problems for three years. I run TTI headers so maybe the brand of headers you run come closer to the starter than mine - then again maybe the brand of starter just won't take heat.

 

[chucklbunny]

I run a Bocsh mini starter wrapped in a tubular heat shield blanket and have had no problems for three years.

That sounds interesting. I will check that out.

I run TTI headers so maybe the brand of headers you run come closer to the starter than mine - then again maybe the brand of starter just won't take heat.

I think this is part of the answer...all my mopars had bad header design, this car looked like the starter was taken into consideration when they made them, I could also be a fluke....but for now a shield seems to be the trick if I can figure out how to do it.

 

[440beep]

I'm running a Powermaster mini-starter and TTI 2" ceramic headers with no heat protection for 2+ years now and the starter has yet to give me any issues.

 

[GetX'd]

I've not run close to the same issues you've had with starters - but I will say I still think it's an issue. I just put in my first mini from 440 Source and I plan to get one of those wrap around heat shields to protect it from the heat of the headers.

i have burned thru starters more than what's normal and I'm sure it's from header heat. In the past I only had full sized starters and cheap, cheap headers. During my refresh on the 68 GTX I've put on Hooker Super Comps - ceramic headers and as mentioned, the first mini. Because changing starters is such a pain in the *** on a 440 GTX I'm going to try some other measure to hopefully extend the life cycle.

Hopefully I'll reap a reward because the other option is not a fun one.