66 GTO Starter

[bob1966]

Hi, Need some advice,
I want to replace my old starter , 1966 GTO 389.
Looking for a good heavy duty starter. Having trouble starting when hot. I do not have heat shield on solenoid.
Any suggestions?

Thanks bob1966

[Larry]

Boy does that sound familiar! I have been fighting the same situation with the 400 I put in my '40 Pontiac. Starting and carb heat soak too. All was fine until I put the hood on and things just got too hot under the bonnet.

I pretty much fixed the carb issue with relocating the fuel line, wrapping it, and installing spacer and shield under the carb. We'll see when the Florida summer comes back.

As for the starter... I first thought my new starter wasn't good, so exchanged it. Things got worse. Then I realized the "box store" gave me a worse starter. Check the spacer (if any) between the little tab at the bottom rear of the solenoid where it screws to the field winding tab. The longer that little tube spacer, the LESS heavy duty your starter is. Very good original starters have no spacer (I have one in my spare parts pile).

However, I think the one I have now (with a pretty short spacer) will be OK. But, it still made hard (VERY slow) starts when warm. I put on one of the solenoid shields (not so sure that is a big advantage!), and also a starter blanket from Summit. Still had the problem. I then realized I had #8 cables (not bad for a "normal" car, but kinda light duty). I made a set of #6 cables (battery to shutoff switch on firewall, switch to solenoid, and ground). I also put the ground on a better, bigger block bolt that it was. So far it seems to have all helped quite a bit.

If your starter is good, good size cables and good connections all around should do the job. If you decide to go to a high output/geared starter, remember, you will still need to make these other items 100% too. I'd start with them.

Keep us posted.

[bob1966]

Hi Larry, your awesome. should of checked with you guys first.
I was told the starter with the spacer was the heavy duty.😡 I also have an old starter , no spacer. Delco - Remy #1108445 0H28 6 see pic. I'll put that in , clean it , with the heat shield.
I put new cables on , not sure of the wire size. I'm sure they are standard.
I know about the heat, I'm from CT, now in SW TX.
Have trouble with vapor lock on my tri-power too.
Someone suggested blocking off the manifold heat riser?
I'll work on the starter first. I'll let u know how I make out.
Thanks Again,
bob1966

[bob1966]

Larry, put the starter with no spacer in, put the heat shield on the solenoid. went for drive about 40 miles round trip. shut it down for about 10 minutes, started with no trouble. Think that did it.
Thanks Again,
bob1966