Technical Cured My Flathead’s Occasional Overheating (The Hard Way)!. Updated 1-30

Hmmm, I run one of those mini starters on my Olds and a ford solenoid in the trunk near the battery, been running like that for many years without issue. I used the same approach when I wired my roadster's mini starter and trunk mounted battery/solenoid. No issues. I don't doubt the issues @wheeltramp brian had, I just don't understand why it occurred or if I shouldn't be wiring them this way.

@hotrodA keep at it, I want to see some road test pics and review.

 

This is the factory GM mini starter that is put on the later Ls Type motors. Not a universal mini starter.

 

Yes. This is it.

 

Yup, that's the GM mini starter. They work awesome. You never have to shim them like the Rebuilds from the parts house.

 

@wheeltramp brian
Bypassed the Ford solenoid and wired it direct.
Turns over like it’s supposed to! Good for now.
If I run into a heat issue, I figure it out then.

Thanks for the help!
Bill

 

Thanks, BB! Fire off tomorrow, hopefully.
Heavy rain and winds and power outages from Helene. She’s a bitch!

 

Good luck man can't wait to see it on the road.

 

Got power back on, so I got the radiator and shroud set in. Hoses, side brackets and shroud tomorrow.
Temp gas tank hooked up to fuel pump.
Gettin’ close!

 

Storm cleanup today. Not too bad for all the rain and wind we had.
Many hurting in East Tennessee and Western NC.
Both I-26 and I-40 totally closed down from wash outs.
No open roads going into Asheville.

Got the radiator, shroud and hoses TOTALLY in and done. What a PITA!!

 

Found more limbs and a couple of small blow downs to cut up and haul to the burn pile!

Back at the front lines:
Got in the side brackets, after losing one and having to make it. Good grief!



Gas and go, hopefully. Too tired today.

 

Not so fast there, Billy Bob!
Hit the key and it turned over fine a couple of tries.
Then nothing.
Just the starter turning over, but drive not engaging! Wonderful
Another @&!!#% opportunity!

 

Remember, it's been sitting for a couple years now. Are you sure the battery is up to snuff? Low voltage might spin the starter but not pull the solenoid all the way in if it's tight in the bore but unlikely. If it's like the old GM starters the motor won't run until the solenoid is bottomed out. Never had one of these apart but I assume they work like the old style, just more compact. Have you checked the mesh of the drive teeth with the flywheel? We always checked clearance with a paper clip, cheap go-no go gauge. The pic you posted makes it look like the bolt on the left side of the pic is loose, like there's a gap between the bolt and the ground cable. Probably an optical illusion but you may want to check. Lastly, after 20 years in the parts business, I never rule out a defective part, especially starters. Been following your posts and pulling for you to cross the finish line. You're almost there!

 

@brando1956
Thanks for the input.
Bolts are tight.
I’ll check voltage. Battery is new. Starter is used.
Engaged several times while checking things, Then just spins.
Maybe get to it today.

 

@brando1956
Battery is only showing 11V so it’s on the slow AGM charger. We’ll see.
Hopefully can dodge a bullet.

 

Well, that didn’t help. Still spins with no engagement. Back in the air and pull the starter.
Close, but no seegar!

Have to go to Nashville for grand daughter’s big deal wedding this weekend, so I’ll drop it off at the rebuilder’s on the way and see what he says.

If it’s questionable I’ll just buy new and be done with it.

Back atcha in a few days with good news, hopefully

 

Are we havin' fun yet?

 

HA! The fun is never ending.

 

So back and forth, rooting for ya to pull it out and get her a rippin'.

 

Thanks, @Crusty Chevy !
Still in Nashville. Hopefully headed home tomorrow. Updates when/if they happen.

 

Dang!
This time for sure.

 

Well, we got home, but at our age, recovery takes a while. Too much bopping at the reception.

Picked up the starter on the way home. It had a broken piece in the drive. Replaced that and a new drive gear for $49.

 

Are you sure part of the overheating wasn't belt slip on that water pump pulley? You dont have a lot of belt wrap on it. Maybe you already addressed that in a previous post.

-rick

 

The overheating was with the flathead, due to a cracked block.

This is a fresh SBC. Didn’t overheat during the engine break in with the same belt setup as it has now.
We’ll see, if I can ever get it running in the car.

 

I bought my pressure valve from SKIP for what it is worth. Install it on the overflow return hose. works great.

 

I don know, sorry if I hi-jacked this thread, but I thought you wuz talking about curing your overheating. Feel free to delete this if care to. I was just trying to be helpful.

 

@BURN OUT BOB
I’m a little slow some times.
I thought that you had posted it on here by mistake when I saw the quoted piece.
Please accept my apology.
That’s a good tip and I’ll keep it in mind. Thanks!

 

Well, it’s been a tiring and screwed up week here with non-car stuff, but the fresh starter is back on.
Coolant is in, valve cover hold downs changed, and a turn over test with starting fluid.
All good to go…..
Gasoline and the big fire up tomorrow, hopefully.

 

IT’S ALIVE!!
(But I can’t get F’in You Tube to work!)
Typical for this project!

Try it now!
https://youtube.com/shorts/4yfojOm4AzI?feature=share

But not without a problem. Imagine that!
I had checked and double checked everything but apparently misjudged the clearance between the fan and upper hose. When it heated up it somehow drooped and hit the fan, or I leaned on it and bent it down before cranking.
We (me and good neighbor Bob) couldn’t find the source of the noise, thinking it was either the alternator or the pump.

It got louder and we shut her down. Then I noticed the hose droop. Loosened it, turned it to clear and got out the Gorilla tape. It wasn’t cut through, so a couple of wraps for reinforcement will hold it until I get another one. No one stocks it in town. A real DUH !! moment! That’s the tape you see in the video.

Anyway, it cranks readily, and runs smooth as is.
180* temp inside the shop at idle, with 60 psi oil pressure on the SW gauges.
I’ll double check the dwell and timing, and fiddle with the idle mixture next.

Stay tuned for more swell hair pulling, snot slingin’, profanity laced adventures!

 

Video doesn't work for me. Says it's private.

Dave

 

Same here.