Hello all,
I have been sitting back reading all the threads and have
enjoyed them all. I'm new to the streetrod business and not
very mechanicaly inclined but I try my best to enjoy this
great hobby. Can anyone give me any hints to a problem that
comes up every once in a while,usually cruse nite (I hate
when that happens) I have a 37 ford coupe with a chevy 350
motor in it. Many times when I go to start up, there's no
response, no power..then sometimes I get power to the guages but no sound of a starter engaging. I cleand all
grounds, wires a tight on starter, and have a new battery..oh yes I have a chevy truck tilt steering. Any and all hints would greatly help out...thanks in advance.

john

Have seen this when custom headers are close to starter. Might try heat shield and I might be way off.

John,......you have only given us hints at what it is actually doing and we (at least I) need more info before suggesting a remedy.

What cures this problem......if your car sits and cools off...then will it start. Do you jump the battery and it starts.....or do you just keep trying the ignition and finally comes to life. When you have these problems, do your accessories work like lights etal. When it finally cranks does it crank strong or just barely.

The first poster is correct......350 chevy small blocks have a notorious reputation for heating the old style starter and solenoids to the extent that they will not operate when warm due to heat soak.

If it is just a starting the engine problem.....then this is the more likely of the issues. If the rest of the accessories are involved and you don't have any power then something else is going on.

The rememdy to heat soak/ hot starting problems is in my opinion is to deep six the stock starter and solenoid for a aftermarket mini-starter. They are light weight, require alot less current, extend battery life, will turn a battleship over, and WON'T HEAT SOAK. You can buy these from Summit Racing or Jegs for a reasonable sum. I ONLY use minis on everything.....they are today's technology.

If you have other ills.....then all bets are off, but this sounds like your problem.

The only other problem would be an ignition switch on the column itself. This high current switch does in fact wear out and either electrically or mechanically can cause your system to not come up electrically to do its thing.

Steve Jack
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Steve Jack
SOUTHEASTERN GOODGUYS REP

Thanks for the response, I followed your guide lines and
will be replacing the starter. Took the end off the old
starter and it was a mess. Will be purchasing one of those
better starters for the chevy 350. thanks again.

john

jd37, what you can do, also, using the standard gm starter is to use a copper band to by-pass the gm solenoid and install a ford starter solenoid on the frame or firewall and your hot-start problems (with heat soak) will be solved also. i did this on mine as preventative medicine and was still able to use a $50.00 starter.
rickd :-)
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project...39 ford pickup

Hi, Rick! .......Can you please elaborate further on how the wiring is done? If the GM solenoid is bypassed, how is the Bendix engaged?
......... I recently witnessed a BBC that was equipped with the Ford solenoid have a hot-start-NO-start due to heat soak. ........ Is the heat soak problem affecting the solenoid or the starter motor? If it affects the starter, how does a remote solenoid or relay help? If it affects the solenoid, causing the solenoid to not operate, how do you activate the Bendix with a remote relay?
........I know! ... Lots of questions!
....... Back in the 60's GM offered an assist spring to eliminate the hot-start problem. Is anyone familiar with these springs?

What you might try is check the neutral safety!
If not check your ignition switch!
Try to jump the starter with a jumper if that works
it could be the switch.
how to do it is you touch the large terminal of the starter to the inside terminal if it's a small block chevy that should tell you!
Make sure the car is in park that is important.
you wouldn't want the car to take off now would you
WHEELS
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I'am interested in the Early 40s style
look !

I'm bettin a whole dollar bill....lol That your problem lies in the tilt steering,must have a bare wire in there somewhere,grounding out. BETCHA !!!

jd, check out the Article section and read the one i sent in on 'Hot Start Problems' see if it helps.
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KEEP THE GREAZY SIDE DOWN! Lobucrod