bone stock '79 F250.

i know, it sounds like the initial timing is too far advanced...
but its set at 10.

it starts fine cold, but after its hot, it gets sluggish.

the weird thing is- it seems to be getting worse...this weekend, it left me stuck for 45 minutes until it cooled down. it has NEVER done that before.


all ideas appreciated-
thanks

 

My problem was the battery cables. Previous owner used 4 guage on the + side and it couldn't handle the current. Link:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-when-hot.html

 

My problem was an old, direct-drive Ford starter. Installed one of those new-fangled mini-starters, and the problem was cured.

 

i do have a direct-drive starter. its only a few years old, but i'm sure its a remanufactured part.

dying battery cables would also explain the "getting worse" bit. i checked resistance on them last week, and they seem okay- but i'll swap them out anyway.

thanks guys- i'll report back when after i have a chance to try this out.

 

I've had similar experience with mine but I have headers and just figured it was due to all of the heat. Check your battery (load test), check your grounds, note your engine temps if you have a gauge and see if the higher temp is in fact the problem, then maybe go shop for a hi-perf starter.

Oh - one more thing - have you played with your timing lately or changed your gasoline? If your timing is too aggressive it can make it hard to start when hot.

 

Doesn't matter....I went through 4 "reman" and 2 "new" starters with the same results. The only thing that cured it was a high-torque mini-starter.

 

Heat drops the conductivity level of the copper wires including the ones in the starter. Over time it increasingly reduces how well the copper conducts. Main reason heat shields are sold for shielding the starters.

Might try shorting a battery cable to the starter to see if the cable has a problem. If the starter kicks right over then maybe try replacing or rerouting any questionable wires so that they don't get soaked in the heat.

 

Install or clean cables. how are you grounded to engine and frame and to cab of truck? look at the big picture. ran across this several times. good luck and pretty sure your ground is shot that is for starter, engine ground and battery ground.

 

no luck with bigger cables, although it does seem to be a little better. (the negative cable was a little rough.)

i've got some self-adhesive heat blanket laying around, i'm going to wrap the starter this weekend.

 

Went 2 stock type starters,finally bought the mini.Do have header's though and the mini is also heat wrapped.Cured hot start for me.
DB Electrical - NEW Ford Mini Starter Truck Van Mercury 460 engine 3226 SFD0030

 

I'm fighting the same issue with mine.New starter,wrapped it with exhaust heat wrap and also wrapped the headers near the starter.It helped some but still have the hot start problem.I used #2 welding cable with soldered ends(before I wrapped the starter) and that also helped for shorter trips.A mini hi-torque starter will resolve it.I've used them before and they're great.This is reminding me of my Chevy engines that were prone to hot start problems.My 460 starter doesn't have a starter mounted solenoid.I thought that would prevent hot start problems.

 

upgrading of cables. how did you ground vehicle?

 

negative battery terminal straight to engine block ground point (bolt hole behind alternator)

 

adding the heat blanket to the starter seems to have done the trick.

 

Is that something made for starters or did you get creative?