starter/battery/voltage regulator/engine start problem

[chargerdon]

My 74 Challenger with a big cam (mopar performance 508) 360 is easy to start when cold.   Fires quickly will stumble and then takes a couple of restarts before it starts running smooth.   I have the timing set at about 20 degrees BTDC where it seems to run the best.   At that setting, it does have i little amount of kickback in turning it over. 

Then If i drive the car long enough to be fully warmed up and turn it off and try to restart, it only turns a half rev and then bogs...   Multiple key hits all does the same thing... half turn and then stops...    Let it sit for four to five minutes and hit the key and it turns over easily and starts.   

It has in it a high torque mini starter. 

Is my problem battery??  Voltage regulator not fully charging battery??  I note that the amp gauge is in the neutral position before shutting it off,  the mini starter, or simply too much advance??   

[burdar]

I'm pretty sure that's a sign of too much advance.  You can easily change it and test.  I believe there are also some timing retard modules for your problem.  They retard the timing while you crank the engine.  I have no experience with them.

[Chryco Psycho]

Possiby timing for sure , easy to test
 Could be other things too  corroded battery connections or cables
 Battery would not recover in 5 mins so it should be ok
 What happens if you add a bit of fuel when it doesn't want to crank over ?

[chargerdon]

I rechecked my timing and it was at about 24 BTDC, retarded it to 18-20 degrees with vacuum plugged and that partially cured the problem.   Engine definitely cranks easier and will now restart when fully warmed up tho you can still feel a little bogging when hot.   However, it doesn't run quite as well at that setting.  So, Anybody have any info on the Timing retard module when cranking mentioned??  Where to buy?

[burdar]

I think MSD makes them and are an addition to their control boxes.  You have to be running their ignition to use them.  I'm not sure what you're using.

[jhaag]

If you really have to have "that much initial timing" simply put a toggle switch in the ignition wire to your coil. Spin the starter over with switch off, when motor is spinning flip toggle on and wahla, motor running. cost about $5.   

[chargerdon]

That sounds like an excellent idea!!   

I'm also going to put a toggle switch in for my reverse lights.   I bought a new Neutral/Reverse switch from Rock Auto and it works but also turns on the backup lights in drive....weird...   thinking it was bad switch, I had an older one in an A518 transmission that I'm going to install next year.   Took its switch out and put in my 904 and same problem....so I think there must be something wrong internally...   Just going to hook up toggle switch to complete the back up lights circuit instead of using the transmission switch.   Why fight it for something i rarely will use.