Recommendation for High Torque Starter

[jbanna]

It's time I replace my OEM style starter with one of the high torque minis - any recommendations on brand and model?  It will need to nicely fit on a Pontiac 455 with headers...thanks!

[roadking77]

Both of my cars have high torque mini's from Summit. I am happy with them.

[jbanna]

I saw Summit has a huge number of choices - which ones did you get?

[5th T/A]

Any brand mini starter is going to be a lot better than the original GM because of the gear reduction. Whoever you order it from make sure it will clear headers or RA III manifolds if that's what you are running. The engine in my car was built by Butler Performance, they installed an IMI-108, 1.2KW starter. My engine is a 461 with I believe 10.5-1 compression. It has no problem spinning the engine over. I have bought lots from Butler and Summit, good service from both places.

FYI, I am running RAIII manifolds from RA Restorations.

[roadking77]

Sorry I forgot they had a couple to choose from. The ones I have are Summit branded. I think the one I just got for my 79  last summer was a bit over $200. I will dig through the papers and find which specifically it was. I would trust 5th's input. If it can spin a Butler anything else should be chicken feed I do have RAIII's on my 77 and the mini fits fine with that. I will add I had starter problems with the original unit when I first started driving my 77. It would heat soak all the time. I was afraid to drive the car for any length, let alone turn it off once I got there. The final straw it crapped out one night when I was at a show/cruise night. Had to get towed home. I put the high torque mini in and it spins the motor like crazy. Havent had a problem since.

[jbanna]

Cool, I'll do some closer looking and make a choice after I get my burnt under-dash wires repaired - that nightmare is detailed in the electrical forum!

[rkellerjr]

I think mine is a powermaster which I've had for years now.  Like 5th TA above, I'm also running the ram air manifolds from R.A.R.E.

[Oldsschool79]

Same here, Powermaster 9610 for my 6.6 Olds. Works great spins no problem with high compression mods.

[jbanna]

Thanks again - I just checked out the Powermaster O'Reilly's stocks for GM vehicles, and they really talk good about it too, especially because of all the fitment options...they also said they never come back as defective (but only offer a 90-day warranty).  When I get the electrical issue repaired I'll probably get the one here locally...

[Oldsschool79]

Forgot to add, I moved the fusible links away from the starter terminal. Installed a fuse block under hood and everything that was on the minks feeds from that point. Too much heat near the starter wtih heat from headers. Consider thermal protection around the starter.

[jbanna]

Just got a Powermaster 9510, and am wondering if I need to worry about shimming - the OEM style is currently using only one, and I'm not sure that one is even necessary as it always seems to engage fine; this 9510 weighs only about 25% as much as the stock starter!