Hard starting when hot

I have a 302 in my car, full hood. When the motor is hot it's hard to start the car, like after filling up with gas. Even if it's not a hot day outside it is always really slow to crank over until it fires. It always starts pretty quick but that slow rur.... rur.... vroomm! always has me wondering. Is the starter on it's way out? maybe just the solenoid?

 

Could be a timing issue.

 

I would say that either the wires from the battery are too small or the battery is just getting too old. I have seen this on many a car. Also like the last post, it could be too advanced.

 

There are many things that cause this. The starter is certainly one of them as well as things noted above. You'll just have to test and narrow it down.

One way to easily check if it's the starter is to poor cold water over it when the car is hot and slow cranking.

This isn't foolproof but if a quick cool down causes the starter to turn normally, I'd start there.

 

timing - timing - timing !!!!

 

Running the battery ground wire to a starter mount bolt instead of the front of the block is supposed to be a good upgrade, shorter curcuit, less resistance.

 

Do you have a heat shield for your starter? Also maybe have a tad too much spark advance at the distributor.
Weak battery or battery not matched to application in CC amps. Poor connections as stated above- or combination of everything mentioned.

 

If the problem is new to an old build, I'd suspect a starter heat soak problem. I'd replace the starter or try a known good one in that case and maybe add a starter heat shield if the starter is only a few years old. ***uming the distributor didn't move.

If the build is fresh then it could be several things including the size of the battery cables and or their connections.

 

the exhaust is too close to it.

 

Try some of the header wrap on the exhaust near the starter and see if that helps . The wrap is a cheap fix .

RetroJim