good old plow truck starting question

[perchking]

I have a 84 F250 5.8L manual 4 speed plow truck that starts fine in the cold but doesnt want to start after it heats up. Also note I have gone thru a few starting solenoids as the leads get so hot when cranking, it actually dislodges the posts on the solenoids. So I know it is not the battery as I have a new interstate in it. Do you think it may be a defective starter or maybe a bad connection? After it is warm/hot and you turn it off for a few minutes, it seems like the battery is dead, it cranks like 1-2 times and nothing. Even if you jump it, it just turns over a couple of times. If you let it cool down for like an hour, it starts right up and stays running just fine.

I did hear that the exhaust runs really close to the starter adn the heat from this exhaust on the starter might be the issue. Before I pull the starter this weekend, I wanted to ask the pros.

So what do you think?

[Whoaru99]

I think starter, but I'd also do voltage drop test on the positive circuit and on the ground side.

When/if you replace it I'd probably put on a heat shield or wrap it in a heat shield blanket, or better yet if you plan to keep the truck one of those high torque mini starters; spendy but good.

[K_Josh87]

Is it by chance carburated? Had this problem with a truck we where racing, and it was dumping to much fuel once it was warmed up and locking up the motor... Its just a thought on it anywho...

[perchking]

Yeah it is carbed, thanks for the tip. I will change out the starter, check grounds/connections wrap it and the exhaust with heat shield and see if that resolves this issue.