Hey All, I have a Meziere Series 400 starter on my Dart 598 BBC. But after starting and driving up to normal engine temps (180-190) then shutting the engine off it will not restart when I hit the key...?? Every time I hit the key I just get a "click", like the solenoid is getting power but it will not engage. After the engine cools off or if I rock the car a little with it in gear it will restart normally. Any ideas from the group as to what's going on here? Thanks!

My Dart 598 with Tim Hogan EFI Intake.

 

Wow, nice engine! You have what's called heat soak, where excess heat is causing the wires at the starter to act like resistance wires, to where they don't carry enough juice to activate the solenoid. On rare occasions, it could be the solenoid itself is getting stuck from the heat, but the heated wiring is a more likely culprit. You can try installing a heat shield between the starter and engine/headers, or put on a starter wrap. But a more reliable option is to install a remote (Ford type) starter solenoid on the fenderwell or firewall, You can buy it as a kit, which is designed for this very problem. Or you can piece it together yourself. There are plenty of how-to's on youtube.

 

I have a 1979 Z-28 RS Camaro Pro-Touring car.It has a Supercharges 377 cubic inch small block.15 lbs of boost. So I know what heat is.I run a Tilton style mini starter with a Moroso # 74299 starter heat shield ..And wrap the wiring in Thermosleeve material..Never had a issue after that.

 

Thanks for the compliment and very helpful responses gents. I do in fact have wrapped the starter in heat shield material because it is very close to the back two header tubes. I did not however wrap the wiring. I am going to wrap the wiring as the first option and if that doesn't work I will go with the remote start solution. Thank you so much guys! Mike

 

I agree with Zspoiler & Camaro 69 say. Hogan intake...WOW! I would go with a crankcase evac. system (electric or belt drive), your rings would thank you...

 

Good point Al. I do in fact have a Moroso mechanical vacuum pump. The engine picture I posted still shows the two breathers on the valve covers which I had welded shut and added a bung with AN fittings to the front of the passenger side valve cover. With that long stroke motor I was getting a lot of pressure underneath the pistons on the down strokes and associated oil leaks. The vacuum pump eliminated it all and my piston rings to indeed appreciate it! The motor revs even quicker now, has crazy throttle response and made almost 1,000HP on the dyno!! All those ponies with No nitrous, No turbo, & No supercharger. Just big cubic inches and old school engineering... Thanks again guys for all the great input! Mike

 

All throttle no bottle! 4.60" bore with a 4.50" stroke, that's a big arm swinging around down there!

 

That's what she said!! Haha. You are right on the money again Al. The block is 9.8" Dart Big M 502 bored 4.6" and stroked 4.5" for 598CI with a Hogan hand fab'd EFI intake and a 1650CFM Accufab throttle body.