starter has trouble when 429 is warm

[1971ford]

A long time ago, several months, the '71 would have trouble turning the 429 over to start it when it was warm. So after nearly being stranded with a dead battery a few times, we replaced the battery cables with big beefy ones, and it really seemed to do the truck!... for a couple months. Now its doing it again. When the 429 is warm and you go to start it, the starter is reeallly slow. you can hear (and see the fan) barely turn... barely turn... barely turn.. each time the starter tries to turn it over. If you want it to start you have to pop the hood and let the engine sit for 10 minutes then the starter will be able to get it turned over enough.

How can we fix this? It seems the battery cables did the truck for a while, i dont know what changed. The only thing i can think of is a heat sheild over the starter to get some header heat away. Maybe my starter is tired and i need a new one? I hate being scared to ever turn it off.

[fordman]

headers will eat starters. a heat shield is a must.

[1971ford]

alright since ive already got the fat battery cables next i will sand the grounds just to make sure that isn't the problem. Then I will fab up a heat sheild. Anyone have pictures of a heat sheild? im guessing it will just be a piece of thin sheet metal covering the starter by the header area and bolts to the starter bolts?

Or actually what if i just get some header wrap to put around that section of the header, and some heat resistant wrap to wrap around the starter?

A Optima battery is on the agenda as well.

[cep62]

What is your timing set at ? if its too far advanced it'll start hard.
Or try disabling the ignition and see if it spins faster.

[oldschoolrods]

A Optima battery is on the agenda as well.

Might wanna re-consider that. I have read over at hotrodders.com several people have issues with them...enough to make me change my mind. Personally I like deka batteries (dunno if there available everywhere) could also use 2 batteries in parallel too if you really need the juice.

[1971ford]

A Optima battery is on the agenda as well.

Might wanna re-consider that. I have read over at hotrodders.com several people have issues with them...enough to make me change my mind. Personally I like deka batteries (dunno if there available everywhere) could also use 2 batteries in parallel too if you really need the juice.

we were thinking optima because my dad can get them wholesale but ive heard some bad things as well. We might go with Odyssey

[fordman]

header wrap can help your header rust out. a starter wrap and a tin shield might be just enough.

[oldschoolrods]

A Optima battery is on the agenda as well.

Might wanna re-consider that. I have read over at hotrodders.com several people have issues with them...enough to make me change my mind. Personally I like deka batteries (dunno if there available everywhere) could also use 2 batteries in parallel too if you really need the juice.

we were thinking optima because my dad can get them wholesale but ive heard some bad things as well. We might go with Odyssey

Never heard of Odyssey but I am sure they're a decent battery.

[BobbyFord]

Get a 460 starter out of a 90's F-series truck. I believe they are gear reduction starters. You'll have to rewire the solenoid because the solenoid is on the starter instead of the firewall. Also, as stated above, run a starter heat shield. Stay away from header wrap.
I've never had anything but success and zero problems with Optima batteries.