[Tom Pugh]

I need a good mini starter for a '73, 455, auto with stock flexplate. The Powermaster I tried did not work out. It interfered with the flexplate regardless of shimming attempts. What are you guys running?

[64speed]

Robbmc

[Scott Stoneburg]

I've used a Power Master on a few motors, what was the issue you were having?

[i82much]

i feel like i had a 9610 that didn't fit so i went with a 9510 that worked, or maybe vice versa. can't remember.

[jhein]

I tried a 9410 that didn't work but the 9510 did. But I had a clocking issue, not a shimming issue.

[Tom Pugh]

Originally Posted by Scott Stoneburg

I've used a Power Master on a few motors, what was the issue you were having?

When the pinion is pulled out to measure clearance the flywheel teeth literally hit the pinion causing interference and jamming. Needs at least .020 more clearance to move the pinion away from the flywheel
However, the starter mounting block has no accommodation for moving the starter laterally.

[graygator]

CVR 5311 on a 74 455 auto.

[Dragncar]

I have had a Summit starter on my car forever. No troubles.

[RocktimusPryme]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

I have had a Summit starter on my car forever. No troubles.

Same, I have a Summit mini starter that's been on the car for about 8 years now, and I bought it second hand. So I don't know how many miles it had on it before that.

Just here recently it had a couple of instances where it didn't spin when I turned the key the first time. Honestly it might be wiring not the starter. But its been so good to me I wouldn't hesitate to replace it with another Summit starter.

I love RObbMC. I just bought some bellhousing alignment pins from him. But we all operator on budgets and have the pick the battles where we buy the more expensive parts. Ill stick with the house brand starter that's proven its worth.

[TransAm 474]

Which Powermaster did you try? We have used the Powermaster XS 9510 and it worked excellent on a 1979 W72 400 in a Trans Am, but it was a 4-Speed car. It didn't even require any shims, it came out perfect without any.

[78w72]

X3 on the summit mini, have one on a 10:7 467 stroker for 10+ years, no issues at all with starting power, reliability or install/fitment.

Not sure which part# it is but summit mini starters are supposed to be reboxed powermasters.

[OCMDGTO]

Originally Posted by Tom Pugh

When the pinion is pulled out to measure clearance the flywheel teeth literally hit the pinion causing interference and jamming. Needs at least .020 more clearance to move the pinion away from the flywheel
However, the starter mounting block has no accommodation for moving the starter laterally.

I've had great luck with the Powermaster 9510 on multiple engines. If you're talking about front to back clearance there is a ring you can use to get more distance between flywheel and pinion. I can take a pic later if you want.

[joes455]

Summit here also 20yrs

[track73]

I like the RobbMc because you can clock it in any direction. I clocked mine so the solenoid is facing down.

[Tom Pugh]

Originally Posted by OCMDGTO

I've had great luck with the Powermaster 9510 on multiple engines. If you're talking about front to back clearance there is a ring you can use to get more distance between flywheel and pinion. I can take a pic later if you want.

the front to back clearance is good. I used the spacing ring you mentioned to get that set. My problem is the ring gear teeth is bottoming out between the pinion teeth. I don't know how to get clearance between them.

[BLUE TA]

hi, summit for 8 years. set the pinion clearance and good to go

[OCMDGTO]

Originally Posted by Tom Pugh

the front to back clearance is good. I used the spacing ring you mentioned to get that set. My problem is the ring gear teeth is bottoming out between the pinion teeth. I don't know how to get clearance between them.

starter shims?

[tom s]

IMI,have had them for a LOT of years.Made in So Cal.Tom

[Tom Pugh]

Originally Posted by OCMDGTO

starter shims?

yeah, the shims are supposed to give you the needed clearance between the ring gear teeth and the starter pinion. I used both of the supplied shims and its not enough to gain the clearance needed. I'm also going to check the flexplate to be sure it is within spec. This is a new build so the flexplate is new. Unfortunately, it's already installed in the car and bolted up to the trans so removing the flexplate will not be fun.

[Sirrotica]

Originally Posted by Tom Pugh

yeah, the shims are supposed to give you the needed clearance between the ring gear teeth and the starter pinion. I used both of the supplied shims and its not enough to gain the clearance needed. I'm also going to check the flexplate to be sure it is within spec. This is a new build so the flexplate is new. Unfortunately, it's already installed in the car and bolted up to the trans so removing the flexplate will not be fun.

I've seen as many as 6 starter shims in a Pontiac with an automatic so don't quit with only 2. It's rare to use more than 2, but it's not unheard of to use more. For some reason the stick cars many times use zero shims, automatics can be all over the place.

I'm not sure if you're aware that there are 2 thicknesses of shims, 1/64th and 3/64 I've seen starters shimmed nearly 1/4".

Some buicks used a half shim on the innermost bolt to cant the inside of the starter at a slight angle away from the crankshaft centerline, this shim was glued to the starter before the starter was hoisted up to the block.

Also not out of the question that the nose was made incorrectly due to poor Q/C.

I'd stack a few more shims before pulling the flexplate.......