My 69 with a 350 starts well when cold. It cranks over with authority but sometimes like a ghost in the machine when it is hot the starter bogs like the battery is dead.The battery is new and when I let it sit for awhile it then cranks over.The headers are right next to the starter which makes it worse.Other times when it is hot it cranks right over.I also heard you can get a smaller starter as mine is the big one,any thruth to that?Your ideas would be appreciated as it allway ends up starting but I would like to eliminate the issue forever thanks

Starters don't like heat and I wrap a fiberglass heat proof blacket around my starter because headers are close also.

Still worth checking your connections though.

Such as..
http://www.autotoys.com/x/product.php?productid=5349

My 69 with a 350 starts well when cold. It cranks over with authority but sometimes like a ghost in the machine when it is hot the starter bogs like the battery is dead.The battery is new and when I let it sit for awhile it then cranks over.The headers are right next to the starter which makes it worse.Other times when it is hot it cranks right over.I also heard you can get a smaller starter as mine is the big one,any thruth to that?Your ideas would be appreciated as it allway ends up starting but I would like to eliminate the issue forever thanks

Yes..you can get a smaller starter however your starter is most likely worn and just needs replacing. A heat shield does help as Steve mentioned.

Kev

I was having the same problem several years ago with my car. I even tried a heavy duty stock style starter but no luck. I switched to a mini starter and have had no problems since. A bonus is it doesn't weigh near as much.

Anyone have part # for the smaller starter as I think I will go this route for a small winter project plus the heat tape thanks guys

My 69 350 does the same thing.... when hot sometimes did not even begin to crank.... acted like a dead battery.

Ok so my brother (old tech) says: Pull off the coil wire next time it does this and see if it cranks over.... so next time I tried it when it acted up and the engine spun fine and fast...

I do not understand it entirely so chime in here.... apparently my timing was advanced a tad too much or the mechanical advance was stuck in the advanced position from the drive. Engine fights itself and can't crank over... so disconnecting the coil frees the engine to spin..

apparently this is an old school test of sorts... so my battery and starter were both fine and I cleaned up the mechanical acvance (gooey) and the problem had never come back!!

just something for us to think about..

I bought one of these for my 69 350 which will heat soak like your describing. 8 LBS and this starter is inexpensive too.

http://www.qualitypowerauto.com/catalog.php?item=30&catid=47&ret=catalog.php%3Fcategory%3D47