Question for Joe Lucia on Special Solenoid Sping issued by GM in the 70's(Hot Start)

[Larry E.]

Joe: Don't know if you knew but a common problem in the LT-1 in the "F" cars and maybe in the Vettes also was a "Hot Start"
problem. Maybe T/M can chime in if he has seen this with the LT-1 Vettes. (Exhaust Manifolds are different from the Camaro/Vette on the LT-1's; believe the Camaro's come closer to the starter area) Anyway GM issued a new spring for the solenoids for the Camaros; not sure on the Vettes. I bought two of them back then (one in the solenoid now and one in my parts dept.) Can not
find that one yet but will do in due time. The number may be 1958679? It don't seem correct to me thinking it may start with a
4 and have less digits. Thinking the number was updated by GM at some time. Don't know what the difference is in this spring from the original. (Length/tension??) Anyway here is my questions for Joe or anybody that might know:

1) Do you remember that problem or that spring issue??

2) Is it still available from GM?

3) Is there another number that was superseeded?

4) Was there ever a shield for this problem for the S/B/C like they have for the 68 427 Vettes>?

Thanks again-Larry

[Joe L.]

Re: Question for Joe Lucia on Special Solenoid Sping issued by GM in the 70's(Hot Sta

Joe: Don't know if you knew but a common problem in the LT-1 in the "F" cars and maybe in the Vettes also was a "Hot Start"
problem. Maybe T/M can chime in if he has seen this with the LT-1 Vettes. (Exhaust Manifolds are different from the Camaro/Vette on the LT-1's; believe the Camaro's come closer to the starter area) Anyway GM issued a new spring for the solenoids for the Camaros; not sure on the Vettes. I bought two of them back then (one in the solenoid now and one in my parts dept.) Can not
find that one yet but will do in due time. The number may be 1958679? It don't seem correct to me thinking it may start with a
4 and have less digits. Thinking the number was updated by GM at some time. Don't know what the difference is in this spring from the original. (Length/tension??) Anyway here is my questions for Joe or anybody that might know:

1) Do you remember that problem or that spring issue??

2) Is it still available from GM?

3) Is there another number that was superseeded?

4) Was there ever a shield for this problem for the S/B/C like they have for the 68 427 Vettes>?

Thanks again-Larry

Larry-------


I'm VERY, VERY familiar with the hot restart problem. It doesn't just plague LT-1's; it's quite common among all Chevrolet engines. I had the problem with my 1969 original owner 300/350 almost from the day it was new.

The spring was part number 1958679. It was discontinued within the last year. It will not solve the hot restart problem. At least, it did not for me.

There was a previous part number which was 1951002. However, the 1958679 was around for a LONG time; it dates back to 1965. If there was any other spring, I have no information on it.

There was a solenoid shield for small blocks and your LT-1 should have been factory-equipped with it. It is not configured like the big block shield but it, basically, serves the same function.

[Larry M.]

Re: Question for Joe Lucia on Special Solenoid Sping issued by GM in the 70's(Hot Sta

A quick Google search indicates that both part numbers JoeL mentioned are still available for purchase. Ebay is one source, but there are also others. But don't wait too long.

Larry

[Joe L.]

Re: Question for Joe Lucia on Special Solenoid Sping issued by GM in the 70's(Hot Sta

Larry-------


There was one other solenoid return spring used for Corvettes. This spring was used in PRODUCTION for 1982 Corvettes and it's possible it was the spring that also was specified to cure the hot restart problem. However, it must not have worked out too well because it was discontinued a long time ago and replaced by the GM #1958679.

[Larry E.]

Re: Question for Joe Lucia on Special Solenoid Sping issued by GM in the 70's(Hot Sta

Joe: I have found another one in my parts bin>1978281. Might be for a B/B but would it work for a S/B? BTW I found one of your older post:

"A less visible modification which you could make is to change out your solenoid plunger return spring to GM #1978281. This spring is supposed to work much more effectively under hot start conditions, although I am not convinced that it is the ultimate answer. In my opinion, the "ultimate answer" to hot start starting problems is the installation of a "slave solenoid". Obviously, this is not an original configuration, either, but it DOES solve the problem."

Please comment on this--Larry

[Larry E.]

Re: Question for Joe Lucia on Special Solenoid Sping issued by GM in the 70's(Hot Sta

OK: Now have read all the old messages/post on this subject. Sounds like this problem has been around for a long time. Don't want to go with
a slave solenoid so I will install the above spring and see what happens. Glad to see summer coming to an end. Larry

[Domenic T.]

Re: Question for Joe Lucia on Special Solenoid Sping issued by GM in the 70's(Hot Sta

I found the problem was heat related. My SB, when heat soaked would not turn over fast enough to start and one day (in desperation) I took the garden hose and cooled the starter with water so I would not be late for work. It started right up and cranked at the normal speed. That's not a good way to solve the problem but it told me what I was up against. This was in the early 80's and if I had to stop for gas I would pick the island with the water hose.

Dom

[Joe L.]

Re: Question for Joe Lucia on Special Solenoid Sping issued by GM in the 70's(Hot Sta

Joe: I have found another one in my parts bin>1978281. Might be for a B/B but would it work for a S/B? BTW I found one of your older post:

"A less visible modification which you could make is to change out your solenoid plunger return spring to GM #1978281. This spring is supposed to work much more effectively under hot start conditions, although I am not convinced that it is the ultimate answer. In my opinion, the "ultimate answer" to hot start starting problems is the installation of a "slave solenoid". Obviously, this is not an original configuration, either, but it DOES solve the problem."

Please comment on this--Larry

Larry-------


Yes, the more I thought about it, the more I recalled that the 1978281 was the spring that was supposed to solve the hot restart problem. I recall that I tried that one, too (still have a few in my collection). It did not solve the hot restart problem. If it had, I expect it might still be around and the 1958679 long gone. Instead, it's the other way around, so I expect that GM, too, found that it didn't solve the problem.

As I have said numerous times before, including my previous post you referenced, in my opinion the ONLY permanent, reliable solution to the hot restart problem is a slave solenoid. Period.