Won't start after engine is hot.?

Question

ok heres the senario...1966 big block 396, runs great but after its hot it doesn't have the power to restart..like the battery is dieing...this time it turned over twice and now it won't turn over at all...starter clicks and has power, but won't turn over.

It has always run cool..I have aux oil pres, and temp

Waited for it to cool down..still no go...ran with lead in the fuel...ran great before I parked it, never runs over 190 degrees but the starter is exposed to the header heat...I know your not supposed to start a hot engine but I had to shut it down to refuel??

starter sounds like it gets power but just thumps and doesn't turn over...

Answer 1

Have you ever wondered why ford guys never have this problem? Well is seems the blue oval people did get one thing right. A remote starter solenoid will cure your problem. I know it may be hard to consider using ford parts to help out your Chevy but sometimes we just have to do what it takes.
Go to your local parts store and buy a ford starter solenoid. It doesn't mater what model it's for, they are all pretty much the same. Remove the battery cable and the wire on the S terminal (should be a purple wire I think) from your existing starter. Run a jumper wire from the battery terminal on the starter to the S terminal on your existing starter. Mount the new solenoid in a convenient place (fender or fire wall). Run your battery cable to one side of the new solenoid and a new cable from the other side down to the battery terminal on the starter. Attach the wire you removed from the S terminal on your starter to the S terminal on the new solenoid and proceed to start your engine whenever you want, hot or not. By the way, someone else mentioned timing being a problem but you said it runs great after it starts so I doubt that's your problem. A heat shield may help matters but it still doesn't get rid of the root problem. Also headers do tend to make this problem worse as they transfer a lot more heat to the starter and solenoid. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

I'm thinking it is time for a High Torque TILTON starter and a heat shield. A lot of 396 chevelle's had this problem in 1973 when all you could get was unleaded gasoline. Leaded gas engines ran hot and headers really heated up the starter motor then you had to wait for everything to cool off before restart.

Answer 3

OK, if it won't start AT ALL now, I would think that it's the timing chain and gear. If that's the case, upgrade to a gear drive set. If it is starting I would check for hydrolock, check the starter...try turning over by hand when it's warm. Inspect thoroughly. Running on all 8? Good PCV valve? Good cables from batt. to starter? They could be getting hot and loosening up at the terminals. May also be a bad fusable link. Good luck.

Answer 4

The starter is located between the block and the exhaust and when it gets hot it won't want to turn over. Put a heat shield over the starter and see what happens.

Answer 5

You're over heating the engine and no automobile starts with a "HOT" engine! You probably scored everything and may have cracked heads and the block! Don't you have a temperature gauge on the thing? Maybe the sending units bad and you're not getting an accurate reading but I can say for sure you over heated it!!!! BAD THING??? YOU GOT PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!

Answer 6

Timing may be out of wack or the point need to be adjusted realy bad.

Answer 7

your alternater is probably out. check the alternater and make sure that your alternater is hooked up. Check the circtuit. it happend to my dad and he had a harley and his problem was in the wiring and it did the same thing. good luck

Answer 8

Dead spot on starter maybe.