you are correct about the heat shield. it was a very thin aluminum piece
with about 1/4" thick of some insulation (fiberglass like stuff) adhered to the
back side and it was literally clipped to the starter solenoid. i've seen
'em. somewhere i have the darn clip too!
if memory serves me right they were standard issue on fiero starters. at one
point i was a GM tech at a pontiac dealership.
but what are the chances of finding one of those still on a car anywhere these
days.......as stated previously, most got discarded when the starter was
replaced over time. or, were so ratty that there was no way to properly
reinstall them.
GM has a serious problem over time with mostly trucks (although my SS454 '70
montecarlo did this too!) of wrapping the exhaust around the right side of the
motor very close to the starter. not being a rocket scientist(hey, i race a 3
cylinder saab! and have a really old sprite!) i'm not certain about the physics
of heat and it's effect on electromagnetism. but that is the GM "heat soak"
problem. if you super heat the solenoid(radiant engine heat in combination
with radiant right side exhaust heat UNDER LOAD) the starter solenoid gets so
hot the electromagnetic field wich engauges the bendix as well as completes the
circut to crank the starter , fails to work. let it cool off over time
sitting(around an hour) bring refrigerant and freeze the solenoid, dump cool
water on the starter or what ever works, and it will crank as if nothing was
ever wrong! tow a heavy trailer through some mountains, take a few reteted
runs at speed on a drag strip, or anything more than a sunday cruise and any GM
model can fail to restart once shut off. as far as i know it's a GM problem
or more so, a delco starter problem. but ask any old time GM mechanic and
they may reluctantly admit to this phenomenon.
chuck.
in spite of evryone saying "chuck , you can not tow with that darn old
van......it works! but it runs hot around the starter area and shutting it
off at gas and food breaks can be time consuming! ;)
----- Original Message -----
From
To: cfchrist@earthlink.net;spridgets@autox.team.net;vintage-race@autox.team.net
Sent: 04/19/2005 11:41:51 AM
Subject: Re: GM starter no restart when "hot" repair?
that year chev came out with a heat shield..usually when somebody works on the
starter
they leave the heat shield off.. its to much bother to reinstall.. try any kind
of heat shield
and it should work ok
----------chico------------
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