Here's the problem. After running awhile, the car won't start back up. Had this problem last year. I replaced the battery and 5 starters since. The headers keep melting the solenoids. I put a new one in today, and after running it 3 times, I stopped to get gas and bam, no starty. Also, the moment after I put the starter in today, It wouldn't crank or nothing until I slapped the charger on even though the battery wasn't dead. I'm am completely baffled and have had it. This problem needs to be resolved soon or the car is gone. I no longer have the patience to maintain this vehicle. Thank you.

 

it sounds like the starter is suffering from heat soak. try wrapping the starter in the heat sheild stuff they sell for this purpose and install header wrap on the headers to lower underhood temperatures as well

 

I used to have the same damn problem, and it always happened in the worst possible spot, like in front of the speaker at jack in the box. I'd have to push the car out of the way and try some voodoo **** to get it started. Usually, after banging on the starter a few times it would eventually start, so I replaced the starter. After the fourth time, (I'm REALLY good at replacing a starter now BTW, I can do it in under 10 minutes, wired up and everything), it wouldn't work at all. After a few hours of getting REALLY pissed off, I hotwired it on a hunch and, sure enough, it fired right up. Turns out it was the ignition switch (where you turn the key).
I set up some wires under the steering wheel so now I just hotwire it inside the car. Never had a problem since While the heat wrap is a very good precautionary move, I doubt that heat is what's causing it since your starter "dies" after such a short time. If you want to get a quick answer as to whether it's your starter or your switch, take your newest starter down to Kragen or something and ask them to test it. My local Kragen has a machine that will tell if it works or not. If the starter works ont eh machine but not in your car, then it HAS to be the switch.

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'73 camaro, 350/350 with 300(?) horses. Only a mid 14
but that's with the open 2.73s.
Also equipped with the destroyed muffler mod

 

If you believe its the starter getting heat soaked then junk the crappy GM starter and get a gear reduction starter. I use the Powermaster one and havnt had the start probolem since. Also, you might also run a Ford remote solenoid as well to remove the solenoid from the heat area.

Jim

 

Alright, it has to be more than just heat sink as I previously thought. Because when I went to fire up the car this morning...it wouldn't. Starter went "wa-wa" and now nothing. It has been less than 2 days and already dead. This is outrageous.

 

Step back and think about this without freaking out.

You have a couple problems.
Heat soak like previously mentioned. This is not uncommon. Heat from the headers will burn up/kill a cheap starter. Generally heat soak will not be this severe, but apparently in your case it is.

So, shield the starter and use a mini-starter. Don't be penny-wise, pound foolish. Buy a good starter up front and be done with it.

You can also look into a remote solenoid. This puts the critical stuff for the starter somewhere away from your headers, so all you have running to the starter gear is a big wire.

Finally, you probably have burned/melted some wires going to your starter. If you melted the big wire, your car acts completely dead. This wire is not fused. The amount of current running through these wires is huge and if the wire starts to melt it might still be able to energize the solenoid, but not be able to carry enough current to start the car. After doing this a couple times, the wire will be completely melted inside. If you're lucky you can see it melting the insulation so your problem will be obvious. Otherwise you need to remove the wire and test it.

The other 2 smaller wires going to the starter have fusible links in them. If you beat the hell out of your starting system, eventually these will melt and kill the car too.

So, you have compounding problems. Heat soak on the starter and an increased and unnecessary load being put on the starting system (wires). Replacing starters and batteries weekly is not a cure.