My 69 Camaro has only 3000 miles since restoration about 8 or 9 years ago. Despite that my second starter began giving me intermittent problems. Sometimes nothing would happen when I turned the key, sometimes I would get a click. The first starter was a standard chromed Chevy Chinese replacement. It behaved similar so I trashed it thinking I bought bad quality. I then stepped up to a Powermaster, I no longer see it offered by them but its a mini gear reduction starter. I paid about $200 for it and was told I dont need a heat shield.

I removed it today and bench tested it and it worked 20/20 times. I reinstalled it and nothing. So I removed it again, retested it and it appears to be intermittent with the problems listed above.

My BBC is a 496 but only 8:1 compression. I have ceramic headers and I drive the car in deep south Texas so it gets hot. Im not sure if that is what is killing my starters so fast or if its something else?

( I have new battery cables and I verified I am getting almost no voltage drop at the starter wire. The motor has standard ground straps. A negative battery cable is bolted to the block with a second one running from the block to the chassis for good measure. )

Is there a starter I can buy that will last? Maybe something with a heat shield?

 

I don't have a BB, but a 11-1 compression SB and I found a starter from DB electrical that is adjustable and has been on the car for 8 years.
jegs sells heat shields for starters

Chrome Starter For Chevy 305 350 454 Mini Super Torque Series 3 HP

1. Item Number: 18493C
2. Brand: DB Electrical

 

Maybe I am killing these starters with heat. So I dont want to bash any brand. Thank for the link.

 

I have a 1979 Z-28 Camaro with a supercharged small block. I have run a tilton style starter with a Moroso heat shield. And a thermo sleeve for the starter wiring..This has worked so well I have used it on my 1981 El Camino SS with 290 hp 350 and a set of Flowtech "shorty' headers. Of which is my daily driver

 

Do you have enough cold cranking amps in you're battery? I like the CSR mini starter on my ZL1 BBC with 12.46 to 1 compression and an Optima battery. Cranking over a 496 with a rod ratio of 1.40 to 1 (rod length 6.135, crank throw 4.37) is a lot of lateral load on the piston skirt to cylinder wall especially on a hot day! You'll need a stronger starter ($$)..