67 C20 with 283 w/3 speed on the floor keeps killing starters.

[BigTopGT]

This has been a ongoing issue since I bought the truck and I'm tired of changing starters.

She's a 67 longbed, 283 with a 3 speed on the floor. (total rat rod)

I assume it's these Hooker headers killing them, but the last stater lasted over a year, made no unusual sounds when starting, but from one drive to the next, it was dead.

So, I replaced it in the parking lot where it died and it started with the first hit of the key.

Yesterday, I drove the truck 800 miles (South Florida to central North Carolina), but at the first refueling stop (200 miles), the brand new starter was dead.

Thankfully, that gas station was on the only downward slope in all of Florida, so I pop started it and simply never shut it off until I got where I was going.

Now it's time for a fresh starter and I'm assuming I need to go high-torque mini starter. (I'll upgrade to the painless starter hot wire, too)

Before I go catalog hopping can anyone recommend a mini-starter that's not going to break the bank, but get the job for for more than 200 miles?

It also keeps developing a miss, no matter what I do, but that's a different discussion for a separate thread. 😁

Thanks, gang!