How to heat sheild a starter

[Phazer]

After reading several post about replacing a starter, I think I'd be prudent to try something else befor I tackle that job on my 84 300d.
My problem is that after the car heats up the starter does not want to turn over. I have to turn the key about 15 times to get it to start again. each of the 15 times I hear a click then finnaly it will start.
When it does start it does not drag but fires right up.
Ihad hoped to replace it but the horror stories I have read about the top bolt make me shudder.
Anway, someone suggested that clean the contacts and put a heat sheild around the starter so the manifold will not heat it up as much.
Anyone have any ideas about how to go about this.
Any pointers about which contacts I should clean?
Is this just a waist of my time, and I should bit the bullet and pay to have the starter changed?