How to Install a Starter Heat Shield
If you suffer from heat soak in your starter, there are a few simple things you can do. Heat soak is exactly what I am running into with the temps in my car. I am currently using a mini high torque starter on my 454 Big Block Chevy and stock exhaust manifolds. This setup works just fine when the temps are in the normal range. However, since I moved the battery to the trunk, my starter has become more susceptible to heat and voltage drop. With a cool engine, my starter spins perfectly. But, after driving for a while and then sitting, the engine temps rise dramatically with no coolant flow. So an immediate re-start is out of the question. I would have to wait it out for the engine to cool down before starting the engine again. To help with this, Speedway Motors offers a few options. Pictured is Aluminum Heat Shield for Chevy Mini Starters, Versa-Shield Starter Heat Shield from DEi, and Heat Sheath Sewn Aluminized Line Sleeving 1" x 3', also from DEi.
I opted to use the blanket style from DEi along with the heat sleeve to cover my battery cable. Installation of both was easy. Before starting, I unhooked the negative cable from my battery, so I didn't accidentally short something out and throw sparks all over the place. I then unhooked the positive cable from the starter solenoid and slid the cable through the sleeve. Then, I re-attached the cable to the solenoid and secured it back in place with line clamps and the all-mighty zip ties.
The blanket shield for the starter was also very easy to install. It has a Velcro attachment and is trimmable in size to fit multiple starters. I wrapped the shield around the starter and solenoid and pulled it tight, securing it with the Velcro. I chose some additional security to keep the shield in place. I had some 8" Stainless Steel Locking Ties leftover from wrapping my exhaust. These are available in 14" length as well. Since I had the 8" already, I hooked 3 of them together. I slid the zip tie together, then using needle nose pliers, I looped the end underneath itself a couple of times and flattened it out to secure the ties in place.
With the three hooked together, I wrapped them around the shield and hooked them together and trimmed the excess portion of the tie off. Then using my needle nose pliers, I looped the excess underneath itself until the ties were tight. Doing this added a little extra security for holding that nice, cool blanket in place before putting my starter to bed.
