Mini starter
 

It's time for a new clockable mini starter for my GTO. Ames sells a couple of IMI Hitorque starters and Summit sells the Powermaster plus their own. Any recommendations?

I always have had IMI.

Butler sells a milled pad version of IMI starters for blocks that have been aligned honed and may need it. Watch this vid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6rp-kEfOT0


I will tell you my recent IMI that I went to install yesterday was sitting too far from the ring gear as their spec calls for 050 to .1" --- mine was .171 away. Not right.

So calling them Monday for a resolution.

If a high performance engine, then get a RobbMc:


https://robbmcperformance.com/produc...c_starter.html

IMI here for years. Second car with one. No problems yet. 20 years of use between the 2.

Prefer a starter with a snout and as far as I know robbmc is the only offering for Pontiac so that's what I use if I want a mini, otherwise it's OEM.

Summits house brand is a reboxed powermaster, I have been using one for 10+ years on a 500+hp 10.7:1 467 stroker thats is real close to big 2" header tubes. It works great, never any issues from no snout support, fully clockable and is the best value mini starter out there IMO.

I've had 2 RobbMc starters. 1 on my 535, 1 on my 462, both with the optional pinion support. I particularly like that it's infinitely adjustable/clockable.

Another vote for Powermaster. Local Pontiac racers like the gold version

I have RobbMc starters (with the pinion support option) on a 535 and a 462. Easy to clock and install (IIRC I didn't need any shims on either engine) and they work great.

you can order the IMI direct,whittier CA.Great people to deal with.They support the SoCal GTO club.TomTom

I bought a summit mini starter a year or two ago and hastily installed it. Ate my ring gear and ended up having to replace ring gear and shim the starter a ton to get it (hopefully) to the point where it works without shearing off teeth again. Did some digging/reading and seems like it is not an uncommon problem on newer summit starters and that something with the machining on the mounting block may have changed (in a negative way) at some point.

I was not familiar with IMI starters so I took a look at their website. They list a starter for a "small block" Pontiac. Thought that was pretty funny. Anyway they have a 1.4KW motor and a larger 2.0KW version. Looks like the typical Nippondenso mini starter. I have personally used CSR, Hamburgers, and RobbMac mini starters. No issues with any of them.

Talked with IMI this morning --- it was Butler who requested they change their instructions on the clearance from pinion to ring gear at rest as current instructions from IMI say it should be between .050 to .100 (mine recall was .173 out). Butler instructions says .100 is ideal with .050 out either way ok.

Mine being that far out is fine though as under engagement the teeth are about 3/4 on the ring gear - which IMI said you want at least 75 to 80% of teeth engaged with ring gear.

Important yet confusing instruction measurements. But freaked out over nothing in the end.

I have never had any luck with shims. Way back when I got my Summit mini starter the instructions said to "tilt" the starter with a washer under it on one side. Take a 1/8" drill bit or welding rod and tilt it until you have 1/8" clearance where the teeth come together.
Works great.

Mike,they make one for bell mounted starters also.Have one in my 62 GP.Tom

I have RobbMc on my 67 GTO....over 600hp and no issues.

Powermaster gets my vote.

I’m very happy with my Powermaster XS 9510 13.8:1 484” on E85

The IMI looks very similar so I imagine it performs about the same

x 2 on post 13. no problems for 15 years. BLUE TA

Robb MC

Contacted RobbMc and they said because of their design that because I have an oil pan with kick outs that their starter might not fit. I asked them if pictures of what I have now might help and I am waiting to hear from them. If I can't use theirs I will probably buy another IMI from Ames.