i guess this is a semi-common problem for thirdgens but my car doesn't seem to want to start when it's " hot ". my car starts fine the first time and when i drive it the temps never go over ~ 160* - 180* but if i park it and turn it off to use an atm when i come back it won't start for like 5 minutes =/

in case it helps the diagnosis -
i have edelbrock TES headers, clean injectors, brand new wires, plugs, coil, cap and rotor, car idles at around 850-900 rpm (when it starts =D ) and a custom intake.

any help is appreciated, just don't flame my car

 

could be starter heat soak

 

what is starter heat soak?

 

Your starter is worn out....get another one. A reman one from a parts store will be ok

Starter heat soak is what happens to a lot of stock GM starters. What happens is that the heat from the engine and now your headers is "soaking" into the starter and not allowing the starter solenoid to work properly

Just get another

 

how much, & where ?

but i have to ask could that really be it ? , bc when the car won't start it does crank and crank and crank, but it never fires and just makes that noise like it wants to catch but won't.

if it does turn out to be heat seeping into it, should i put some sort of heat shield on it / duct some air over it the whole time i'm driving ?

 

That isn't starter heat soak since your starter is cranking. When your starter gets heat soaked it wont crank at all until cooled down

Seems like you either have an ignition or fuel issue. Check your plugs and wires

 

i just replaced all the spark stuff ... which means a fuel problem. ewwwwwwww. lots of $ to fix that, i'm sure. funny thing is the engine doesn't play its little game if i leave work, drive 20 minutes to gas station, then fill it up - it starts just fine. do i have a bad fuel pump maybe ?

( fill it up? ya ... right - that car just looks at the key in my hand and sux down 1/2 tank )