66 327 starting problem

[Joe T.]

I'm getting frustrated. I have a 66 327 roadster that wont start after a 15 minute ride consistently. It starts fine when cold. It is 1200 miles into a fresh rebuild, rebuilt alternator, rebuilt starter, and battery reads charged at the end of the ride but after a few cranks goes dead, I recharge for only a few minutes after car cools and it starts right up again. A year ago I had the same problem and couldn't start it at a gas station and when jumper cables were applied extreme arching occured. There is a battery disconnect switch on the negative terminal(lever type). I've checked the timing and it seems fine. Any ideas? I thought maybe a bad battery or maybe a faulty disconnect switch?Thanks for all ideas, Joe

[Paul J.]

Re: 66 327 starting problem

Joe:

I assume that you can get into the car and start it when it has been sitting for several hours, i.e. the battery does not drain when it sits. If so, either your alternator is not charging, your voltage regulator is bad, or you have a short somewhere beyond the switch.

Paul

[Joe T.]

Re: 66 327 starting problem

just started car with first turn after sitting overnight, my mechanic says the alternator is charging well, voltage regulator is new since the incident last year with the battery arching, so it sounds like a short, any clues on how to find that? I did recently replace the speaker and had the radio rebuilt and reinstalled.

[Rich G.]

Re: 66 327 starting problem

Had a similar problem with my 66. Start cold every time, even after weeks of sitting. Hard/no crank when hot.

Battery was old, so I changed it. Even though I thought it must be good since it would start fine after sitting for weeks, but it was the problem. Starts fine ALL the time now.

Rich

[Paul Y.]

Re: 66 327 starting problem

You can have your electrical system checked at most auto parts stores and even wal mart. If it is up to speed, I would look at the plug behind your fuse box on the engine firewall side. Your coil and condenser can also fail from heat so that might be the next step. Do you have fuel at the carburator when this occurs? Taking a pressure reading of the fuel pump pressure would be another next step. Don't worry, you will find it and then it will be a funny memory. Remember, you need spark and fuel for combustion. Paul

[Jack H.]

Re: 66 327 starting problem

Does starter motor have factory specified heat shields installed? When starter was rebuilt was the solenoid return spring changed?

You might have a starter heat soak issue that designers fought back in that era. The story goes like this...

When the engine is cold, there's no problem supplying enough electrical current through the starter solenoid to overcome the return spring's force and engage the starter motor. But, let a hot engine shut down and heat radiating from the block + ramshorn exhaust manifolds can get to the starter & solenoid causing the return spring to expand/stiffen. Then, there may not be sufficient field strength in the solenoid to compress the return spring and engage the starter. Symptoms: the starter either won't engage and crank or engages momentarily with SLOW/inconsistent cranking.

Let the engine compartment cool for a while and the problem goes away... Opening the hood speeds up a heat soaked starter cool down recovery.

You can test this hypothesis by gently bathing the starter motor with water from a garden hose. If the starter IMMEDIATELY roars to life, you're probably fighting a heat soak issue...

Designers addressed this by adding various heat shield components to the starter AND using a weaker return spring on Corvette. I believe that spring is still available from GM...

Plus, if memory serves, there was a service bulletin that essentially said you could effect a road side cure, by removing the return spring and cutting 1-1.25 winds off it to shorten it up a bit. I believe the generic starter rebuild kits include a fresh, passenger car grade, return spring...

[Jeff S.]

Re: 66 327 starting problem

Is your car equipped with powerglide auto trans? If so, I'd suggest bypassing the neutral safety switch for some trial runs/trial starts to elimate that component as the cause.

[Timothy B.]

Re: 66 327 starting problem

Joe, I would start by checking the battery cables and ground. If the starter solenoid gets power from the ignition switch, then it's battery, cables, or solenoid.

Try a starter shim, there is discussion about this a few weeks ago in archives.

[Joe T.]

Re: 66 327 starting problem

Thank you to all of you, I replaced the battery and the problem has been solved and my frustration abated, now I can drive the car and not worry about getting home!

[Wayne K.]

Re: 66 327 starting problem

Thank you to all of you, I replaced the battery and the problem has been solved and my frustration abated, now I can drive the car and not worry about getting home!

Joe,
Glad you solved the problem. Sounds like the old battery shorted internally when it got hot from the engine.

Wayne