Needs help with my '85 p30 454...it will not start hot

[Shasta]

Hi folks, I just bought my first RV in April, his name is Paul (to honor the late prior owner). my Paul is an A class Itasca, Chevy p30 7.4L with 22K (original miles). I'm still working on just going through all the systems. Engine wise, I rebuilt the carb & had a pro bore it out so the California ethanol wouldn't hurt Paul. New sparks & wires, all fluids & filters changed, & that was when he was running/starting cold & hot just fine. He started getting hard to start so I got a new (1000cca) battery & starter solenoid, the starter motor is fine... all the battery cables are in great shape, I get a full 12+ volts to the starter from the battery and the ignition. After the new battery & solenoid it started up better cold, but still is just nothing if the engine is warm. Before the new solenoid the engine would rotate really slowly and not turn over until quite a few tries. Now it starts cold with a long delay of just nothing then a big rev when it turns over. But nothing at all if engine is warm. I have run out of possibilities... any sugestions are very welcome

Thanks!  

[Matthew Tritt]

Yeah, what DID happen? Reading back through this thread from the beginning, it sounds a lot like several things are going on: Bad carb rebuild; Weak fuel pump; Bad starter/solenoid/relay; Bad chassis battery and/or cables. Could be a number of issues, but when problems begin after "fixing" something, that's always the first place to look.

Matt

[Shasta]

hi ya'll, I've been too busy working 2 jobs to get any work done on Paul...the wait is driving me crazy too. the 1 gauge wires are in very good shape, super clean connections. The carb was rebuilt & tuned by an expert with 30+ years under his belt. I plan to pull & re-check the starter motor (again). Haven't messed with the fuel pump yet, but fuel delivery was very strong with the carb rebuild...solenoid & battery are brand new. My mom has moved the rv last & she said it started much better, & even restarted after running for 5min... but I don't trust mechanical issues to just 'go away'. I'll get my first day off (in 10 days) on Tuesday, so I'll have a real update then. 

thanks 

Shasta

[Matthew Tritt]

Shasta, when you crank the starter over, does the engine turn over briskly or sluggishly? Unless there is something impairing current and/or voltage in the starter circuit, the engine should turn over nice and fast - hot or cold.

Matt

[Richard W. Cobbs]

I don't mean to jump on your post Matt, but I had a problem with my carb after rebuild.  Engine started great cold, but hot turned over really slow and finally would start.  Carb was draining into intake and flooding engine, washing down cylinder walls and into oil pan. 

[George Crewell]

Check what starter type was the replacement. Their are two starters that look similar and will bolt up, the 454 needs a high torque style. The tech should know how to tekk the differance, its the lignth of the field windings, the HT has a longer field assy.

[Glenn & Carmen Johnson]

If you have a stock HEI dist  make sure every thing is good in it, including the little ground clip... and the heat sink paste under the white 'brain'... double check that the drive gear is still on solid.... and back off the timing about 2-4 degrees... bet it starts up like a champ when it's cold... Folks set the timing ahead thinking that it will help.... but it makes it very hard to start hot.... Glenn

[Richard Chadwell]

Shasta

I am getting in late on your post about Paul but I didn't see any reply as to if you got your problem solved so I thought I would share this with you. In 86 I bought a Suncrest with the 454 in it and always had problems of some kind with it and starting when it was hot was one of them, I went to a gear reduction starter and a heat sheild which I got from Napa Auto Parts the same stuff they use on high compression race engines it solved my problem and maybe yours also. Good luck.

[Raymond E. Smith]

Okay I had a similar incident with another type of vehicle and the whole problem was solved when I tightened all of the starter bolts. It seems that the prior owner either did not tighten them enough and vibration caused the starter to bind on flywheel. Before pulling it try this when you are down there.

[Shasta]

He runs!!!!! Paul is starting perfectly hot & cold :) The last thing I changed was the starter solenoid & to Raymond, its funny you mentioned the starter bolts being loose because they were! & I tightened them up too. Thanks for all the advice, what a great forum :) got the radio working & some other things fixed too... he's coming along :)

[Don Huntley]

Excellent news!!

[Raymond E. Smith]

Congratulations !!!  May you run around for many trouble free miles! 8)