Hi All, I have a '78 F100 w/ a 400/C6 and headers. I am having problems with my starter heating up and not cranking. Does anyone know where I can get a starter heat shield? It could be either OEM or aftermarket... Also, is this a common problem with headers on a 400? Thanks, Rick

 

Hey Rick, im not sure if this is a common problem or not, but is your timing set to your trucks specs? If your timing is to far advanced, and the engine is at operating temp. your starter will sound like you have a dead battery, and when it cools down, it will start right up. If your timing is set to specs, is your battery good? is your alternator charging? Check these things first before you try a heat sheild. I've never seen a heat sheild on a truck before. Just my opion. Hope to help some. Rob

 

rick
as far as i know, that can happen to any vehicle that has headers. if you think about it a stock manifold has 1 pipe that will exit somewhere near the starter, and for the most part they are not very close to it. but with headers you have usually 3 pipes that sort of wrap around the starter. plus a 3" or so collecter where all 4 pipes converge, and that is right below the starter. not only that, but there s quite a lot more heat with headers than with cast iron manifolds. i have a 65 f100 352 c6 with headers. in the last 2 years i have gone through 3 starters. untill i put header wrap on my header tubes. the stuff is 2" wide (or 1") and you wrap it around each tube of the header and the collecter. it works. it is expensive though, any speed shop will have it, or try summit, or jegs. its about $40 a box, 1 box per side. they suggest doing all tubes and both sides. it is suppose to increase horsepower also, but it was nothing i could feel. it just keeps the heat in the header. they say that you can hold on to an exhaust pipe wrapped in this stuff it is so good. i havent tried that. dont think i will. but i put it in 2 months ago and no problems.
mattb
mattbalfanz@webtv.net

 

Okay, went out and purchased a starter heat shield today...got home and put it on. Started it up and drove for 30 minutes...got home and shut it down...wouldn't start It would turn over, albeit very weakly. Waited 20-30 went out and started strong...shut down and repeated starting for 3-4 tries and it started strong every time! Darn...so, either I go buy the header wrap and try that along with the heat shield OR do I replace the starter b/c mine may be beat from the heat? OR, do I start looking at other things? BTW battery is new and I could drive the truck with a dead battery last week (I assume that means the alternator is working)...Thanks for the assistance so far...Rick

 

I have a 78 F-150 with a 302 and had the same problems, but i cooked my starter. So i went out and bought a new starter and wraped it with that thermo tech starter wrap, I not sure if that was what you used or not. But I would say your starter is going to need to be replaced so I would try that because its probably not very good now anyways.

Good Luck!

Joe

P.S. Did you find a big difference with the headers?. I did'nt notice to much with mine It just cost me a whole lot of money and time.

 

Thanks Joe, I think that will be the first thing that I'll try after checking for vacuum leaks. Heck, I guess that's why they have warranties...

I have never ran the engine without headers so I can't give you a comparision. However, my friend SWEARS by them...he notes a difference in performance and MPG with his 302... Thanks, Rick

 

Check with the company who makes your headers. Header wrap will void the waranty on most.

I installed Thermo-Tech wrap last year on my 12+ year old headers on my '69 F250 for the same hot starter problems. Just recently the tube on the #8 cylinder blew-out at the 90° bend near the collector. Wrap related blow-out? I checked the headers in several places with pliers before investing in the wrap and it all seemed solid. I changed the starter with a hi-torque remanufactured and an extra heavy starter wire at the same time I wrapped the headers. No starter problems since. The wrap does lower the temperature under the hood, and also makes it run quieter.
Not sure yet if I will wrap my new headers when I get them. They are the headman heavy wall style--made out of 14ga rather than the standard 18ga, so they should survive; however, the cost is more than twice the price of the standard headers.

 

Have your starter checked before you install the headers! I thought I had a good rebuilt, no starting problems..
I took it to a private rebuilder and it was just a piece of shiney junk .... brush tension was bad communitator was not undercut end frame bushings were shot!! Thanks Kragen Auto!!

After it was again rebuilt it cranks like a jet turbine
Don`t over look the ground cable to the engine. Use the biggest you can like #2/#4 wire
I have the Sanderson `shorty` type headers and have no problems with heat (390 v8)


__JOHN__Õ¿ö
72 F-250
ICQ#6030753
http://clubs.excite.com/72FORD-F-250

 

Don't overlook the simple things. I had similar problems with my 73 F100 390 (dead when hot) and it turned out to be corroded cables. The ends were good, but at one of the bends, the insulation was cracked and it had corroded inside the insulation for several inches. Replaced the cable and it has been starting like a champ ever since. It doesn't cost anything to look over the cables.

Marty

 

My dad had the same problem after he rebuilt his 400,(no headers) but I later found out that he did not have the rods reconditioned. the motor lasted about 15K before it chewed an 1/8" off of the #8 journal.
About the header wrap, it does hold in the heat and lower the engine compartment temp. This lets you engine take in cooler air, the higher exhaust temp and velocity is where you are supposed to get your extra horses but IT HOLDS IN MOISTURE and this will eat up your headers!
I have heard of people taking a coffee can and making a heat shield for the starter. This is what I probably will do when I put headers on (I now own the truck )