Thread: I keep burning out starters on my 396

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Good day, everyone. I own a '66 Caprice with a 396. I would say I go through a starter every couple years. When a new one is installed, it starts every time. Then, it won't start when the engine is hot, then eventually it won't start at all. It is not my primary transportation vehicle. I asked some of my buddies and at the parts store; the general consensus is that heat, either directly through the mount or blowing off the engine as the car is moving is cooking the starter motor. I have not troubleshoot what goes wrong with the starters, I have just replaced them.
I have heard the following suggestions for long term repair:

- Use a Delco, not an aftermarket starter (how do I know it won't burn out too!)

- Buy a heat shield

- Fabricate a heat shield using foil covered fiberglass as used on aircraft

- Install spacers under the mount, The theory on this is that as the engine parts heat up, the starter/flywheel gears are too close to engage properly

- Install a high torque racing starter (again, how do I know it won't burn out too!)

- Suck it up, it is an engineering flaw with big blocks; they will always fry their starter motors no matter what.

Any suggestions on a satisfactory repair? Thanks. -Spiff_USAF

try a heat shield or rap the lower manifold you did not say if it has headers .if so you could make a shield for it to if it has gm manifolds . i did a have a car that had the same thing with headers what help was a hd starter solenoid with delco parts ? i would bend up some .030 or thicker alum with some air gap and use band hose clamps to mount it to the manifold

The company I worked for here in Phoenix used a lot of GM trucks both BBC & SBC,hot starts were a constant problem,I suggested to our fleet mechanic that he put the M.A.D.D. start up kits on them like I had on my truck,he did and the problems are now history.Summit also has a similar kit,it the best $25 you'll spend!

I had the same problem until I installed a heat shield. It is a simple fix. Make sure the heat sheild stays away from the solenoid when you install it. The M.A.D.D suggestion would be an equally good alternative although more expensive. M.A.D.D does everything right.

The remote solenoid and the heat shield both make good sense. I am curious, as the Thermo-Tec seems to wrap somewhat tightly, what is it made of? Thanks again. -Spiff