Mini starter suggestions
 

Howdy, I have had a CVR 5311 Mini starter for the past few years and I know it has been chewing up the ring gear with no shims installed. Did some transmission work and what not so I got a better look at it. Seems it is too far out so I shimmed the outer bolt with 0.10 inches of shims, it was very close to clearance spec but still a tad over and that many shims seems sketchy. New flywheel so I do not want to risk it. If I were to mill the nose it would help marginally since it is already on the furthest out part of the flywheel it would need to move towards the engine...

Threw the stock starter back on with no shims and it is perfect clearance, but I KNOW it will heat soak eventually.

Looking to hear what people use for a mini starter, RobbMC seems good but also more pricey. Thanks. (Pontiac 400)

I think I had to shim my older summit branded mini starter 1/8" or so to get it where it needed to be (I agree far from ideal but seems to be working out fine). Lots of info/opinions on this if you do a search.

Are you referring to 1/8” on both bolts or just 1? I’m just shimming the outside bolt to pull it closer to the ring gear. I fear adding more shims to get it closer is going to give me mounting issues, I’m at .10” and need even more shims still. Hard to find information on shimming towards the ring gear instead of away.

Powermaster

PowerMaster - even with header heat soak I was able to get a few years (decades) out of the run of the mill PowerMaster 9610. Now using the PowerMaster Ultra Torque 9410 and no issues since and better performance.

IMI mini starter no shims 5spd with aftermarket flywheel.

Went with a Robbmc unit, made no adjustments and fit perfectly, around .030 backlash. Not sure what the deal with that CVR one I purchased was, guess it'll collect dust until it finds a better match.

2X IMI.Tom

Just the outside one.