Starter smoking, hard starts and slow crank when warm, what's wrong?

Let me try to explain this to the best of my abilities. When the I go out in the morning and start my Electra, I barely have to tap the key and it starts right up. Once it is at operating temperature and I shut it down, it becomes very difficult to start. The motor cranks very slowly, maybe 1/2 to 1 full revolution then nothing. No click from the starter solenoid like the battery is dead. The battery is charged, both positive and negative battery cables are new. Sometimes it barely cranks that 1 revolution and its enough to start it, today was another story. I popped the hood because I'm aware there is a problem and don't want to start an engine fire. Every time this happens, I can see smoke coming from the starter.

My question is what is causing this? Does the starter become heat-soaked? It is the original starter, and the heat shield is in place next to the factory manifolds. However, the car previously had headers on it. Is it possible that the headers "cooked" the starter? Is it the purple ignition wire lead that runs from the key to the solenoid? Where should I start for diagnosis? Is the heat from the engine after I shut it down causing vaporlock? How would vaporlock cause the engine not to turn? Thanks in advance.

I'm sure the traffic around me today was cracking up when they saw I was going to try and push my Electra. I shut them up FAST! I got that car moving quick and in sandals! :laugh:

 

Get your self a new starter my Grandville was doing the same thing had it tested it was pulling way to much voltage put new one on fine

 

i totally agree with the heat shield. a rebuilt starter is in order.

 

The same condition can occur if your timing is too far advanced.

John

 

My F-250 7.3L started doing the same thing. it would always start after a few tries. One day I was convinced one of the batt's took a dump on me so I put my 250A charger/ starter on it. when I turned the key the starter went POOF.200$ later and 15 mins under the truck it starts better than it has in a year.