78 440 hard to start when hot

[78440shorty]

I have a all stock 78 440 that starts fine when cold but when hot you will without a doubt have to crank it over a full 5 seconds or more before it will fire.Some have said thats common in 70's Dodges is this true or whats my options? Thanks

[712edf]

It is a sorta common issue. Some areas that people look at are timing, fuel routing to prevent vapor lock, checking fuel pressure & going to a mini starter to improve hot engine cranking.

Bucky

[USN78W150]

440 hot starting

Is your truck an original big block truck, or a conversion? Trucks with the 400 and 440 engines come with a factory installed heat shield on the right frame rail that prevents exhaust heat from boiling the gasoline in the fuel line. The small block trucks exhaust systems run several inches farther away from the fuel line than the big block versions do, so no shielding is necessary in those applications.

[gyman98]

Its not common, it should start fine. Check your timing like one guy suggested and put a inline fuel filter in between the pump and carb that only flows one way. Stops the pressure from bleeding off if the pump is weak

[DODGEBOYS]

heat soak on a 440 l know it well / well it can happen to any motor / stuck half open thermostat / half clogged RAD / colasped lower or upper hose / LEAN running carb