[Roy Zink]

I'm new to this board but was a regular a few years back. I've got a 68 Firebird 400 Convertible that I just installed a 455 into. The specs are....1974 455 2 bolt, .60 over, #64 heads, performer intake, Rochester quadrajet, Hedman hedders, accell dual-point, stock converter, TH400 with shift kit, 3:08 rear. Car is used on the street in Florida. Problem is re-starting the car when it's hot. A few years back, on this forum, there was a diagram to utilize a Ford selonoid mounted on the inner fender or firewall. I had printed it out back then and used it as a reference to do the installation. It mentioned a "purple" wire on the starter.....needless to say I don't have a purple wire. After a couple of hours of switching wires in the dark I finally got it to start.........however once it got hot it was the same old problem. Any advice??? Also, anyone have any idea what hp the motor would be putting out? Thanks in advance.
Roy Zink

[Roy Zink]

I'm new to this board but was a regular a few years back. I've got a 68 Firebird 400 Convertible that I just installed a 455 into. The specs are....1974 455 2 bolt, .60 over, #64 heads, performer intake, Rochester quadrajet, Hedman hedders, accell dual-point, stock converter, TH400 with shift kit, 3:08 rear. Car is used on the street in Florida. Problem is re-starting the car when it's hot. A few years back, on this forum, there was a diagram to utilize a Ford selonoid mounted on the inner fender or firewall. I had printed it out back then and used it as a reference to do the installation. It mentioned a "purple" wire on the starter.....needless to say I don't have a purple wire. After a couple of hours of switching wires in the dark I finally got it to start.........however once it got hot it was the same old problem. Any advice??? Also, anyone have any idea what hp the motor would be putting out? Thanks in advance.
Roy Zink

[David Jones]

What is your initial timing set on? How close do your headers come to your starter? What condition is your battery to starter cable in? How much compression do you have? Enough to warrant some sort of high torque starter?
David

[Roy Zink]

David,
Initial timing is 12-14 degrees. I had it set at 10-12 but the motor ran too hot. The headers aren't that close to the starter. I put all new pos and neg cables on the battery/starter, etc. I'm estimating that the compression is approx 10 1/2......I'm not quite sure on that.
Thanks for your repsponse.
Roy

[Roy Zink]

Forgot to mention. The cam is the equivilent to the Ram Air IV. Same specks.
Roy

[David Jones]

Has this been a problem since your rebuild? Have you ever replaced your starter or rebuilt it? That would be my guess.

[Marty Phipps]

I just went through the same dilema with my 428.
Backed off timing, no difference.
I actually ruined 3 starters before I was finally able to get over this.
Broke 1 snout, disentigrated one starter gear, fried 1 motor.
I finally had to go to a 700 cca battery, and a heavy duty starter.
I went to Schucks and ordered a starter for a 72 455.
The motor is still a little slow to turn over at warn up, but it'll start.
Another thing I've started to do, is open the hood while the car is parked.
That allows some of the engine heat to escape before restarting.

[GTOPhil]

You need a 1000 CCA battery on the 455's along with a quality starter. Forget the Autozone junk and try NAPA starters. I've never seen a Pontiac, even with headers, that wouldn't start with the proper battery and quality starter. You might also try one of the solenoid heat shields.

[Roy Zink]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Think I'm going to move up to a stronger battery and look into a high torque starter. Gets a little embarrasing when you have people admiring your car in a parking lot.....then it won't start !! Any ideas, based on the above info approx how much hp this motor is now putting out?
Thanks again
Roy

[thepontiacman]

Heres some ideas to prevent this starting problem: Get a 1000 cranking amp battery, some bigger battery cables, a HI-Torque Starter,HD Solenoid and install a HD/heat soak spring in the solenoid(you can get from GM or places like Year One). Also check other items mentioned above in other posts.
I run a 70 455 with RA3 manifolds and have not had problem because I had heard of others having the problem and decided to do everything possible to prevent it .I hope this helps. [email protected]

[stevep]

If you are interested,I can supply you with a Mega-Torque starter for $139.95 plus a $15.00 core charge.That includes shipping.It looks like a factory starter.

[vidguy]

I want to know what kind of Battery you found that gives you 1000 CCA and fits in your GTO tray? I have a '67 and I looked around and could not find a battery better then 650 that would fit in mine.. What brand will?
Thanks!

[vidguy]

deleted double post......
But I still want to know! [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ June 19, 2002, 09:27 PM: Message edited by: vidguy ]

[The Champ]

James

Champion SubZero 34/78 model UF9SZ has 1,000 cranking amps & 850 cold cranking amps.

This is in both our '64 GTO and our '72 Camaro.

Of course, I live up north where men are men, and the sheep are.... Oops... Anyway, it gets cold up here, and HIGH power batteries are quite common.

[73ta]

People, I've read about this problem much too much. I'm running a 500 HP 455 with 18 degrees of advance in central california where it gets into the Hundred and teens in the summer. I've fought hard starting problems for 25 years in my pontiac. Finally moved the battery from the trunk back under the hood, bought the largest CCA battery I can fit in the tray heat shield and HD solenoid/starter and installed #2 wire cables. Still had problems when it was hot outside. Finally bit the bullet and bought a small hi torque started. Solved the problem. My car will start right up no matter how hot it is. If you have problems starting invest the money in one of these starters and move on.

[snakepod]

Hi. I had a similar problem in my 69 GTO. Changed starter twice and added ram air heat shield with no improvement. I finally purchased a power master hi-torque mini starter. It works beautifully and starts instantly no matter how hard I run the car.