[i82much]

Originally Posted by ZeGermanHam

Yeah, the mini-starters are so much smaller and lighter than the clunky originals.

years ago i started converting over to mini-girlfriends for all of my applications too. makes life so much easier, just throw them in your backpack and go!

[AG]

The smaller size allows you to have more than one.

[Greg Reid]

Well, I'm way past the girlfriend stage but from what l can remember about them, having more than one can be problematic, especially if your wife gets involved

[Scott65]

The risk/reward ratio is crap...

[ZeGermanHam]

Originally Posted by i82much

years ago i started converting over to mini-girlfriends for all of my applications too. makes life so much easier, just throw them in your backpack and go!

Lol, this gave me a good chuckle.

[mzbk2l]

Originally Posted by track73

I love my RobbMc. One reason is that you can clock it so the solenoid is underneath keeping it away from the heat of the headers. And they have great customer service after the sale.

+1

I bought a RobbMC years ago for a 455 I was planning to build, and before I got a chance to use it, the OEM starter failed on my '67 Cutlass. I threw the RobbMC on the Olds 330 and it's been starting that car ever since. Maybe one of these days it will see service on a Poncho motor...

[jonmachota78]

Originally Posted by BLANK1

Been using a CVR starter for over 20 years now. Rebuilt it a couple years ago. Still going strong.

I too have been using a CVR for 20 years now. Its finally getting weak though. Can you provide details on the rebuild? Parts required? Thanks jon

[Greg Reid]

One of the issues that l read about with some the IMI starters was excessive clearance between the starter pinion and flywheel. This is front to back clearance, not tooth clearance. Well, lucky me, l got one of those. The clearance is supposed to be between .040" and .100".
I have about .140"...Grrrr!
EDIT- Just talked to Chris at lMl. He told me that as long as the extended pinion caught at least 75% of the flywheel that I'm good.
I'm catching probably a good 90% of it so it looks good to me.

[HWYSTR455]

I've been using the Summit mini starters for years, on both my Pontiacs and Oldsmobile engines, they are the same part number.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...1/make/pontiac

If it doesn't work, send it back, they will send you a replacement and you will have it in like 2-3 days max.

If you're that concerned about a failure, buy a spare so you don't have to wait.


.

[Greg Reid]

I'm not really having any concerns about it at this point. It extends out far enough to engage the flywheel well enough so that l don't think another .040" is going to be an issue. We'll see soon enough.

[chrisp]

Originally Posted by Greg Reid

One of the issues that l read about with some the IMI starters was excessive clearance between the starter pinion and flywheel. This is front to back clearance, not tooth clearance. Well, lucky me, l got one of those. The clearance is supposed to be between .040" and .100".
I have about .140"...Grrrr!
EDIT- Just talked to Chris at lMl. He told me that as long as the extended pinion caught at least 75% of the flywheel that I'm good.
I'm catching probably a good 90% of it so it looks good to me.

Excellent choice on the IMI , great items & #1 customer service if ever in need.

[Cliff R]

As much as I love stock parts I've never had any success with full size factory starters in any of my vehicles. Headers are a death sentence for them as those huge starters are nothing but a big heat sink.

I have been using a mini-starter now (pretty sure it's a Powermaster) for over 20 years and I could literally drive the car to town on it if the battery lasted long enough! .......

[Mr Anonymous]

I've used both Powermaster and summit versions, and have had very good success even when header/starter/pan clearance is tight. The infinitely clock-able feature on some of them is a God-send. Powermaster has excellent customer service. I managed to have a kickback on a 12.5:1 engine once and the starter nose came apart spectacularly. Not the starter's fault, it was mine. I sent it back to PM along with all the loose exploded parts in a bag, and asked for their help. I got a phone call quickly, and had it back as good as new in a few days, and the cost was VERY reasonable. They were slightly impressed with how well I blew it up, said it was one of the best jobs they'd seen! I wish I had recorded the call, it was hilarious. Similar good cust service with Aeromotive. There are some companies out there genuinely interested in their customer base.

[Greg Reid]

I've talked to Chris at IMI twice now. The second call was because when I pulled the pinion out to check the gear lash, it doesn't pop back in on its own. He told me that was normal as long as the flywheel isn't turning and then he complimented me for actually reading the instructions..lol
Got sidetracked on some things yesterday so I still haven't tried it but I do have it fitted. Just need to splice my solenoid trigger wire into the pigtail and attach the main wire.

[Greg Reid]

The IMI is installed and works great. I'm very satisfied with the product. I didn't like the half moon opening that was left open by the smaller starter at the dust shield so l fabbed and tacked a filler piece.

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[Holeshot71]

I’ve been following this thread and thinking of getting a mini at some point. Any chance you could post a pic of the other end of the starter with the wire connections?

[Greg Reid]

I didn't bother to take a picture but any Google search for the IMI will show you that. I've attached the picture from the instruction sheet that shows it just as well.
It's a pretty straightforward swap if you're using the original solenoid and starter arrangement. If so, the two wires you have attached to the big lug go on the big lug on the mini.
The purple wire with the small ring connector that comes from your ignition switch will be replaced by a spade plug that is included with the kit. You cut the small ring lug off and splice the pigtail from the kit in its place, then it simply plugs into the side of the starter.

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[Holeshot71]

Thx for the info! It looks like you installed it right out of the box without having to clock the solenoid?

[Greg Reid]

I clocked it one or two places in each direction and wound up with it back right where it was out of the box. I noticed that it had a Sharpie mark at that position and since I got it from Butler Performance I'll bet they had it premarked.