starter problems all season

Old 01-12-2010, 11:29 AM
  #1  
chpseat987
Member
CRAFTSMAN
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 57
Default starter problems all season

I have a 72 nova that has a big 427 with headers, I can not count how many starters I went through last year, and cost me several rounds, they get hot and game over, I placed a huge fan behind the front tire trying to cool it and it helps, has anyone else had these kind of problems and whats a good fix? it seems after they get hot on go on the fritz I have to replace them, I can get about 2 days racin and I have to replace the starter, lucky I purchased 2 lifetime warr starters at checker ops: and just kept exchangeing them. :?: :?: :?:
chpseat987 is offline  
Old 01-12-2010, 11:47 AM
  #2  
oldandtired
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
oldandtired's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Sugar Hill, GA
Posts: 1,365
Default

A possible option with a stock type starter is a heat shield and a remote solenoid. If this does not work you are probably going to have to make the move to a mini starter.
Also make sure you are jetted correctly. A lead condition really makes the headers heat up.
Good luck, Dave
oldandtired is offline  
Old 01-12-2010, 01:38 PM
  #3  
I972Nova
Senior Member
EXPERT BUILDER
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Orient, OH
Posts: 384
Default

I was having a similar problem with my Nova. I went to a 16 volt battery and ford style remote solenoid. It spins the motor over better now than it did before with the plugs out!
I972Nova is offline  
Old 01-12-2010, 04:03 PM
  #4  
hammertime
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Coldwater, MI
Posts: 2,998
Default

My guess
1. Ground issues, take a 4 gauge wire and ground it from the block to the frame. Take a 10gauge wire run it from the head to the battery.
2. Weaker Battery, check the voltage out put and if its not 12.65 toss it for a new one
hammertime is offline  
Old 01-12-2010, 04:26 PM
  #5  
zipper06
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: La.
Posts: 2,890
Default

I'd opt. for a minnie gear drive starter 3.5 HP's can be had for a little over $100.00, also as Josh and David said use a ford solnoid and good grounding.
Be careful if you go to 16 Volts, make sure your delay box is setup for 16 volts. Some biondo delay boxes are 12 volt only.
Also on starting get the engine spinning then flip on the ignition switch, if you have the distributor locked in.

JMO

Zip.
zipper06 is offline  
Old 01-12-2010, 08:20 PM
  #6  
DRTRCR22
Senior Member
EXPERT BUILDER
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 267
Default

Circle track racing EATS starters like cookies in preschool. One day I added up all the receipts I had spent for stock type starters and those $100 gear reduction starters in just one season, and I freaked out! I tore down every bad starter under the bench and found one $100 starter had PLASTIC gears in it! Another had pot-metal gears! All of them had cheap brush housings and small gauge wiring. Even the heavy duty GM454 truck starters could not hold up.
I saw the other guys having NO problems with theirs, so I asked them about theirs, and found out they had spent $250 to $300 on really good racing starters like PowerMaster, CSR and CVR. I also learned that ALL of them had been using the same starter for four or more years without a rpblem!
I broke down and bought a PowerMaster for about $250, and have had NO problems at all for the past two seasons, no matter how hot or how long I crank on it after a spinout stall. It will be going right back in my modified again this season. I will NEVER EVER buy another cheapo stock type starter for any race car engine... it's just not worth it, and the security of knowing I have a reliable starter is priceless when you are sitting at lineup and it is your time to shine...!

Jim
DRTRCR22 is offline  
Old 01-13-2010, 12:39 AM
  #7  
chevyfireball
Senior Member
MASTER BUILDER
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Napier, New Zealand
Posts: 231
Default

If you have an MSD you should be able to set the start-up timing to make it spin over real easy.

Check the battery voltage too.
chevyfireball is offline  
Old 01-13-2010, 03:18 AM
  #8  
chpseat987
Member
CRAFTSMAN
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 57
Default

this is great stuff, Thank you, I started runing the engine over then flippen the ign switch it semed to be alot esier on it, but when the heat gets to it its all over, like I said I can count 3 second rounds, and 2 third rounds I missed last season for this dam starter, I got to talking with Mike knowles with Why Not Racing "Pro Mod"... they told me to go with the MSD starter and I will never have to think about it again, has anyone ran this starter?
chpseat987 is offline  
Old 01-13-2010, 03:39 AM
  #9  
hammertime
Senior Member
RACING JUNKIE
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Coldwater, MI
Posts: 2,998
Default

Originally Posted by chpseat987
this is great stuff, Thank you, I started runing the engine over then flippen the ign switch it semed to be alot esier on it, but when the heat gets to it its all over, like I said I can count 3 second rounds, and 2 third rounds I missed last season for this dam starter, I got to talking with Mike knowles with Why Not Racing "Pro Mod"... they told me to go with the MSD starter and I will never have to think about it again, has anyone ran this starter?
Yes its better then a tilton but still not the best Ive ran. Find a local alt/starter shop and go chat withi them, most can get a good starter for far less money. He should be able to get you a high tq starte for around 130.00 and it'll work great
hammertime is offline  
Old 01-13-2010, 04:01 PM
  #10  
cam67152
Senior Member
MASTER BUILDER
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: B.C. Canada
Posts: 145
Default

I was researching starters last year, thought about MSD but found that on MSD's website a lot of complaints, I went with a powermaster good to 18:1 (so they claim). good so far.
cam67152
cam67152 is offline  

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell My Personal Information -