57 Buick w/66 425 Restomod issues

I have a 57 Buick Restomod with a 66 425 equipped with EFI and March serpentine belt system. Cooling fans are dual Spal electric. Battery is an Optima Red Top.

So my issue is car starts and runs as it should. System shows that it is charging as it should. My issue is that once the fans kick in at 180 degrees if you shut the engine off and try to restart, the starter acts as the battery is dead……just clicks. After it cools down it starts as it should.

Any thoughts as to what the problem might be and/or a solution.

 

Check all the battery connections and the grounds. I don't understand the "fan kicks in at 180 degrees if you shut the engine off..."

Sounds like the fan is doing what it should?

If all the connections are good, the starter seems the likely culprit. especially if it's getting hot when the car is running (near exhaust pipes?).

 

Clarification! Just indicating that the fans do kick in at 180. However if you shut the engine off after the fans kick in/or running, that is when it won’t immediately restart. All battery connections have been checked and are good. This is a “newer” problem as previously restarting when engine was hot was not an issue. Will investigate the starter/exhaust situation. Thanks for your input.

 

Here's a way to use process of elimination to find out what's taking place .
At home get this problem to take place.
Next with a person looking at the front of the car turn the headlights on.
Next go to restart the motor.
If the headlights dim down a ton then the starter IS trying to crank the motor as it should, but it can't pull the needed current to do so .

If when you go to crank the motor the headlights do not dim then the starter solenoid is heat soaked and not able to close the circuit to actually get the starter to spin.

 

Just for the record it is a mini starter. And thanks you for the info Stevem! Will try that “test” later today possibly! Thanks!

 

Heat soak is my first guess.

 

Did you check the spacing between the starter gear and the flex plate? You may need to shim the starter.

 

Well those types of started don’t have solenoid heat soak issues which brings into play the simple fact that many have just plan gone bad on folks with open windings that only show there teeth when a warm motor as it normally will be a tad harder to crank then when cold.

 

Ordered a new starter! To be continued……………

 

Did the new starter cure the problem?

 

Myy bad. You can't shim a Nailhead starter, the starter is piloted off the front of the starter motor. I was thinking BBB.

 

I was going to install electric fans on the Buchev, but when I discovered that they drew a total of more then 15 amps, I shelved that idea. the present Delcotron as I recall is only about 35 amps, so I would have to swap out a perfectly good generator for a bigger one. I'll stick with the engine-driven clutch fan. I'm not giving up the AC.

 

Sounds like your fans are pulling to many amps to the use starter while they are running. Pull the fuse or fuses to them when it won't start. If it starts, you need to add a switch to your fans so they can be turned off to free up the amps to use your starter. Just be sure to turn them back on once it starts. I have an old Dodge truck that is set up this way along with an electric fuel pump on another switch. Good luck figuring it out.

 

Just curious - Where are you drawing the power for the fans?

 

Are the fans running when you try to restart? If yes - Since this is a new problem, your battery may be getting old. Check the voltage while trying to restart.

 

If that was the case the starter wouldn't work when cold either!

 

Haven’t been here for a while! Problem solved. A combination of issues. Undersized wiring from alternator back to battery and defective ignition module! Also the mini starter was not engaging properly! Thanks for the suggestions and input!