Starter Wrap

[plum500]

Did a quick search... hopefully this isn't a repeat question.

Does anyone else use starter wrap like the stuff from DEI?

I've got a 383, new mini starter, and the cheapo Hedmans (1 3/4) --they actually fit like a glove. However... while they clear the starter, one tube is darn close at the front edge. I haven't done the final (or first final) install of the driver side header yet, so I figure I should do something before I just plan for more work in the near future...

So I went out and bought the DEI wrap... way overpriced, but whatever.... there's a ton of pictures of mini starters wrapped as examples, however, none of them are in cars... does the wrap (obviously foil side out) go right over the solenoid and crank wires? I have more than a little concern about something (however minute) working its way through the inside of the wrap to make contact with the foil.... am I concerned over nothing?

Fred

[69wannabe]

Were you having starter issues? Usually I don't use the starter wrap with a mini starter, I did use some one time with an old ford I had but it was a temporary fix. It had the old factory starter on it and it kept dragging and I finally bought a mini starter and that cured all the starting problems that it had. If you still want it on there you will need to cut out for the hot post and the solenoid post. There is minimal room between the hot post and the block anyway so wrapping it all wouldn't work I don't think.

[c00nhunterjoe]

As long as there is an air gap, its fine. Any street driven car with header or starter wrap is asking for moisture, corrosion and rust in my opinion.

[RECHRGD]

I was concerned how close one of my header pipes was in relation to my mini starter.  I fastened a flat piece of metal (4x4 junction box cover) between the starter and pipe with a exhaust pipe u-bolt as a sort of heat sink.  That was about 16 years ago and I haven't had to look at it since........

[plum500]

Yeah... I think I just tossed some $$ away. If I had thought about it for more than a few seconds I wouldn't have... the other problem aside from the moisture would seem to be the trapping of heat that is eventually going to soak anyway.. you know, if you are driving for more than a few minutes.

I guess I was sold by all the comments of people saying it kept their starters from soaking as much. Though I think some of the reviews were just from people who simply put their mind at ease, but never really had any way to check it, and it probably isn't doing that much. I dunno.

Anyway, I'm going to run without it. I ended up just modifying the header so that it will absolutely clear fine without any risk of touching, and so there's a decent gap for air between the tube and starter.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Fwiw, my 383 got a reman factory unit from advance auto in 2000, still have the receipt for $16. 2 header tubes physically touched the starter. Its been on the car for 16 yrs. Only reason its off now is because i scattered the motor.

[funknut]

For some basic protection, if you have an air gap between the starter and the headers you can apply some high temp foil tape to the starter (shiny side out) to reflect some of the radiant heat.  Insulation (fiberglass, etc.) won't help that much since there is a lot of airflow to move the hot air away.