So my truck is having slight hot start problems. I can always get her running ( Knock on wood) but she tends to have trouble after driving and then shutting off. I added heat shield over the starter, all new wiring, the little blanket shield over the starter, wrapped my fuel line in the same type material and moved it farther from the motor but she still has a little hesitation (gotta pump the gas pedal and sometimes floor it) on starting sometimes when hot. I believe the problem is once she sits and continues to get hot, this is what is causing the problem ( I know this is common and not something new I am coming up with) But my question is has anyone added a secondary fan that only runs when the truck gets turned off to cool it? Kinda like a temperature controlled radiator fan but I like the mech fan since if the motor is running there is atleast some air moving, I know a little old school but im a fan of keeping as much mech as possible. Probably way overthinking this but thought maybe I could get some inspiration. Thanks, DJ

 

what exactly is the problem? slow crank when hot, or extended cranking times (from possibly flooding)?

 

it was slow crank until I added all the heat shields and moved stuff, now its just extended with a slight bog. If I give it some gas itll usually take off kinda on the back end of cranking, if that makes sense. Like ill let off the key and itll stay going. I am getting good spark throughout the cranking though.

 

My first guess is it sounds like you're getting a little vapor lock. Engine not keeping the gas between the fuel pump and carb cool and it boils a little. (Backing this is that when you pump the gas it'll come around and start). Is your fuel line between pump and carb all metal (except for the end by the carb?).

You may still have some starter related issue since it sounds like you're saying it doesn't disengage when you back off the key when it's hot.

 

That's kind of my thoughts, It is all metal so I wrapped it in the heat shield fabric you can get for plug wires and moved it as far away from the block when routing as possible. This is why I think a fan that would stay on a few minutes after I turn the engine off might mitigate some of the vapor lock. and the starter does disengage, the engine just doesn't seem to "catch" until letting off the key, kind of like it starts late. I know Im describing that terribly but basically yes there is still a slight hot start but I think the fuel is more the problem, but I think cooling after shut down will solve both issues. (Hopefully)

 

So another question related to this, what's the best way to prevent the fuel from boiling out? I would think cooling down the engine is the best best but coolant is sitting about 220 with 180 therm. I don't think that's grossly warm but seems to be causing hell on the fuel. Any ideas to fix that?

 

DSII system, yes? The operative phrase of "The engine doesn't seem to catch until letting off the key" caught my eye. Could be the stator (pickup coil) is going south.

Simple test: Disconnect the distributor from the harness - the three plug connection. Measure the resistance between the purple and orange wires at the dist. connection. 400 - 1k ohms, the stator is good. Any more or less than that, replace the stator.

Let us know your results....mebbe it is vapor lock, but the stator test will eliminate one electrical problem....

 

Forgot to mention that. I had lots of problems with the ignition, kept acting like the stator was bad so I switched to a hei distributor. Been running great ever since, until you try to start it hot.

 

You could try a phenolic carb spacer...maybe an inch thick? Ebay is a lot cheaper than the parts stores and they're the same thing. Don't know what you have for a carb - 4v, 2v...if you have a 4v get the square bore (Holley) type. Will also fit the Edelbrock 1405 -1406, etc.