[tucsonjwt]

You have raised a "hot topic" on this forum. Headers cause extra heat, causing more resistance in the wiring of the starter and associated wires. The fender mounted solenoid is a remote solenoid (aftermarket only, as far as I know), which is intended to isolate the solenoid from the excessive heat of the headers.

Banging the starter indicates you may need a new starter. The remote solenoid should be effectively bypassing the stock starter mounted solenoid.

Some use heavy gauge wire from the battery to the starter to overcome excessive resistance from heat from the headers - money well spent, IMHO.

You should first check all of the connections and wires at the starter. It is possible your headers melted insulation on the wires or dried out the insulation to the point where it is flaking off. I would remove all of the wires at the starter one by one, then clean the nuts, studs, and wire ends. Be careful when tightening the nuts - you can snap off a stud easily - just snug and not moving is good enough.

I bought a GM high torque mini starter to help overcome "heat soak" from my big block. This is probably the best fix, but it is expensive. Mine was about $160 a few years back, but I think they are more like $250 now.