...could this be a symptom of heatsoak from the headers? ...or since it started after I whacked it with a hammer mean the starter is going bad?

I know the hammer trick can work if the starter is going bad, but didn't know if it worked with heatsoak.

 

i have never heard of a heat soaked starter working from a hit with a hammer,... but anything is possible, but probably not likely. if you don't change the starter or get it rebuilt,.. keep the hammer with you.

 

A heat-soaked starter is a starter going bad.

 

Heat soak just stops the starter from working till it cools down. When my father bought his 68 vet it use to happen all the time untill he bought a high torq starter. He useto poor water on the starter to cool it down, before he replaced it. Sounds like starter is going bad the hammer trick works for a while but you need a new starter.

 

I'm gonna get it rebuilt regardless.

I guess my question was more like should I get a heat shield when I re-install it. Since it doesn't sound like a heatsoak problem, I think I'll be OK without one.

Thanks!!