It's perfectly normal for the temp gauge to rise, even to the red, after shut down.  It shouldn't effect the ability to re-start unless something else is wrong.  If I get back in right away under the right conditions I can find my temp gauge in the red.  Motor starts on the first crank, and this is a tired old M110 with 300k+ on the clock.

Can you elaborate a little on the symptoms of your no-start?  Does the engine crank but not fire, fire but not run, or not crank at all?

Starters will draw more current when heat soaked and all the wiring connections will be that much more important.

-Dave G.

In that case, don't forget the grounding.  A lot of times that braided ground strap gets frayed or otherwise worn away or the connections corroded.  Make sure it's in good shape and the connections are solid at the engine (starter mounting bolt), the lug on the chassis, and the body connection under the battery tray.  And then check both ends of the "-" cable on the battery.

Do you hear the "click" of the solenoid pulling in, but no starter spin?  Or is there just no response at all to the turning of the key?  Grounding can be the issue in either case.  The solenoid is probably more often effected by heat than is the motor itself (solenoid trouble would be nothing at all when key is turned, motor trouble wouldbe the audible "click" of solenoid pulling in, but no starter spin).

Good luck!

-Dave G.

PS - edting now, maybe a dumb question, but is the starter heat shield in place?  There's supposed to be a thin metal shield on top of the starter, on the side that's toward the exhaust manifolds.  It's there to help with exactly this issue.  Maybe some past owner or mechanic neglected to replace it one time, or it just corroded away or something.  I always forget to ask the obvious stuff, so just making sure.