Is it possible for exhaust headers to overheat the starter causing it to act as if it were going bad? When cold start engine starts in a snap. Once its run for a while, especially highway speeds trick acts like the battery is dead and when the starter does kick it acts like a bad starter until it cools down.
If is possible what is the fix? A heatshield of some kind?

 

heat could be a major reason for this. also could be that your timing is not set right and when hot, the engine is harder to turn over. check the timing and make sure the advance mechanism in the dist is not seized in full advance.


you can do a few things to help cure this. a heat shield is a good idea. you can make one out of some sheet metal or buy one. you can also get the insulation blankets that wrap around the starters also. I would also in conjunction with this use header wrap on the headers and/or get them ceramic coated also. this will help a lot also.


rgds
Mike

 

If you are using an older starter, a big one you could go to a small mini type starter and that will help a lot too..

 

Thanks for the info. I'll checkout the timing, then shielding in that order.

 

Dont build the heat shield out of tin,use Aluminum, it will dissipate the heat much better.

 

Another good point. It's great to know there is wealth of experience for help. Thanks!