I've got an '83 F100 with a 302. I ran headers for years with the original Ford starter and never had any hot start problems. Recently I went back to headers and am using Auto Zone starters and have tried two or three(lifetime guarantee) and when it gets hot it will not start. Let it cool off for about 30 minutes and it's good to go. I've tried starter wrap and it didn't help. I've got a mild Comp Cams cam, Edelbrock intake and Holley 870, and Hedman headers with stock compression. The truck has an open front end so it gets plenty of air flow. I'm guessing I need to go to a performance starter. I see them from around 40 bucks to over over 300. Anybody got any recommendations.

 

Everything I have bought at Auto Zone lately has been junk. I put 3 fuel pumps from them on my 302 before one worked. Two alternators, two electric window motors, I like the employees, but I am tired of doing the work more than once.

 

Thanks Rusty. I decided to go with a Powermaster 9603 from Summit. It is reduction gear rated to 14:1 compression and just put it on yesterday, so can't give a real rating, but it spins the little 302 with stock compression over great. It might be overkill, but if I decide to upgrade the engine it should still cover it. Might turn some heads with that Chrysler reduction gear sound. Ha!

 

if you look at the exhaust manifolds on a stock motor you'll find that the pipe goes above the starter and not under it. the problem that you're having is because the headers don't have that design so end up having the starter get too hot and burning up or drawing too much amp.

 

Good point Grindman. We header wrapped the header when we put the performance starter on and it seems to be working alright. Like I said I had run headers for years with the factory Ford starter and never had any problems. Same brand of header, so we'll see if it works.