Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Tryin to uninstall/install an Original 40/50 lb Delco starter around exhaust pipes on your back is not an easy task...

Anybody had any luck with a "Mini" Starter?
Yeah, and I got the off set bolt to block starter with the purple and yellow wire (points) solenoid...

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Have one on all of my "not modern" vehicles including my 1946 CJ2A 4 cylinder Jeep...not that it's hard starting it's just that these things are bullet proof reliable.
Everybody used to make fun of the Crysler gear reduction starter whine back in the day, but those where proven to be the most reliable.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

I put on a Proform Starter Motor (#66256) on my 70 when the original went out. It was a super pain getting out original with full length headers. I used this one as it was one I had from my prior truck's build. Starter has been on this truck almost 4 years, plus year or 2 on last truck. Does great Lot easier to get in especially since I went to shorter headers.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

My mini starter is a Hitachi from a local speed shop. It's been in there for 12 or so years. Works like a champ!

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

A factory gear reduction starter from like a 4.3L S-10 works great and is available at your local parts store. I have one on my Blueprint 427 SBC and it has worked flawlessly.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

I've used them in every Chevrolet I've needed to put a starter in with no issues at all. The only thing that I'd recommend, is don't "long-crank" them, they heat up fairly quickly.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Thanks My Brothers!

Proform *66268* Spec Sheet Says: 8.3 lbs.

Heres some pix...

mini2.jpg

mini1.JPG

Think I'll get it from Summit, I like their Customer Service compared to the *others*, ~$145 OTD...

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

I have a Powermaster 9612 that I installed a few years ago. It has worked fine, and it has no problem clearing my headers. One minor issue I ran into with it was that it sat too far away from the flexplate, so I had to machine about .020" off of it where it sits against the engine block to get the teeth to mesh properly.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/PWM-9612

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Yeah, a Powermaster *seems* to be a better quality starter than a Proform, nowadays that ain't saying much really. A 9012 Powermaster would need a little more fiddling to work for me though (I have Points) and shimming/machining seems to be more of an occurrence than a Proform. Also Powermaster does have a (.1) better Review Star than Proform...
A Powermaster and the extra resistor wiring I would need for a 9012 to work for me is ~ $100 more than the (hopefully) a plug and play Proform.

*Side note...that will upset some, I do have a 50lbs working 1968 Delco-Remy Starter with a new Duralast solenoid on it, but Man it's Killer installing it!

I'm headed to Summit to buy the Proform right now, Hopefully I'm not back here in 3 months complaining that it pooped out on me......

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

You can use the Chevrolet, for example, a 1998 C1500 starter, and get the same one, just add Dorman bolts p/n# 678-107.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Yep, I see that, another guy in this thread mentioned that for a 6 cylinder S10, I think it's the same one or a variation. Delco on Rockauto about the same price OTD as a ProForm and the Delco is ~6 pounds heavier...

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Ok, so I ordered the Proform Mini Starter I pictured above.

I haven't really dove into this yet, thought I'd ask Here First...
What About The Starters Front Hold Down Bracket?
My Truck didn't have one when I got it, the mounting hole on my small block and a pieces of all thread off the original starter are there but no bracket...

I will be checking into that.....

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Holy Moly...Summit, Speedway and A1 are selling those Starter Brackets for $70+!
I ordered 1 from AutoZone $13.51 OTD....Hope I get it!


*Edit: ....Hope it fits... but yeah, I'll probably end up having to Blacksmith me a bracket out on the sidewalk with a piece of angle iron, hammer and a Benzomatic with my luck anyway.....

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

My mini starter failed after about 15 years. The front drive wore out. It is a 10:1 compression engine. I bought a stock unit and it is working fine for about 8 years. I made it so that both batteries are hooked up to it when I start and then they separate again. I found a drive for the mini and replaced it and now it sits in a box somewhere. It not the type you picture above. It's a CVS or something. The drive just hangs out with no support on the other side. It's a clockable unit. Worked awesome til it didn't.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

What is the part number for the bracket, if you don't mind?

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

They are different starters. I know a guy that only uses the 6 cylinder S10's over C1500's. I believe the S10 starter is smaller, has more torque, and it's maybe cheaper. I think it depends on the source. I personally will be doing an S10 starter when I have to replace my GMC's starter

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

2 sbc
2 454
All same

Ac delco

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

So far great. If I ever see another 10K pound starter again it will be too soon.

ACDelco #337-1022, GM #88877121

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Here put this into Google and shop around you'll see what I was talking about.

GM Genuine Parts Starter Bracket 03965589


All the "Build" videos I've seen online never show *this Bracket", I just happened across it in a Venders Parts Drawing.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Beauty, but I got Points...

Aaaand do you have the front hold down bracket on yours?

I better show what I'm talking about...


Brace.jpg

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Yes, and I was told about some "points delete" gizmo that'll fit inside my 1968 distributer. I haven't shopped for it yet, if it even exists. And I know, I know I need to study HEI!

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

I had a '69 Nova (wish I still did, nowadays) with 250 CI six and ran points. I got as much as 33k miles out of a tune up. Almost all highway miles.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

I highly recommend a 1990s AC Delco permanent magnet starter. All kinds of room around the starter. And the engine spins over faster than my old full-size starter.

It's an AC Delco Gold part to fit 350s (and maybe other engines) with 168-tooth flexplate/flywheel. Everything about mine looked brand new, as you can see in the photo.

AC Delco #336-1910A
GM #88864291

I paid $102 for it in 2022 on Amazon. Unfortunately it's now $148, but that's with free Prime delivery. Wish my income would have gone up 45% in the last 4 years!

Instructions are very informative. They call out specific bolt P/Ns you will need to use, which are knurled above the threads, unlike standard bolts.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

By the time you changed to that smaller starter had you ditched your points?

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Yes. Good point though. No pun intended!

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Yeah, And That's A Great Picture. Clearly shows the All Thread on Both starters for the Front Hold Down Brace!

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ado-336-1910a
.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Ha! I'm all worried about the Front Brace, and wouldn't you know it, in the picture of the starter I bought, no All Thread, No Provision on the starter for the bracket/brace.....I already bought it too. I'll see once I have in my hand...

If I can't use the brace/bracket I'll dangle it from rearview mirror as a $14 Score compared to what everybody else wants for them!

Attachment 2443891

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Palf,
Are those Sanderson shorty headers? That is what I am putting on my 350 I am about to drop in and the starter is a big question mark in my mind right now if the stock will fit or if I will need to go with a setup being discussed here.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Yes, they are sandersons, and I do love them. I went with them because I could not find a regular set of headers that guaranteed clear the Z-bar and manual 3 speed shifters. I put the starter on when the original failed, but I still had the long tube headers on then.. I never had factory starter with the sanderson's. I not sure it looks real tight for factory starter. One idea, instead of sanderson's you could go with the 2 1/2" ram horn manifolds like Speedway has.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

For those mini starters that have provision for the front brace, is that the same front brace that is used for a full size starter and does the brace connect to the block at the same place?

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Thank you! I went with these for clearance on the Z-bar for the manual and the engine I am putting in came from Blueprint and the Sandersons claim to fit those as well.

I will see soon as plans are to put the engine in this weekend and start putting all the accessories on.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

I run the factory GM mini gear reduction starter from the 94-98 trucks in mine. Never had any problems. I got it from the junkyard close to 10 years ago. Hard to tell how many miles it has on it now.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Those starters are awesome. Tiny torque monsters! They would probably work with any and all exhaust manifolds and headers.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Wow, never heard of a starter brace. Hmm. Do I need one?

My thinking was the lighter starter with more better bolts is better than a BA starter with lessor bolts. Did original starters have a brace?

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

I know that Chevrolet V8s had them. Any mechanic worth his flat rate pay tossed them when reinstalling the starter. Maybe the sixes had them; I just don't remember. I'd expect that they'd be necessary on high compression engines, but I had a '66 Le Mans with a 400 (not original) that had 11.5:1 compression and no brace. Anyone know if the mini-starters have that brace?

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

*Most* Starters have the All Thread on them for The Brace, look at Post 23...

That said the "Mini" Starter that I should be receiving late today is pictured Without the All Thread....

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

Got it. I wondered what you guys were talking about earlier. I know these as double-ended (stud) bolts. I'll look at my starter sometime and see if it has one. Ain't putting s brace on, in any event.

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

The Starter Aaaand the Brace just arrived. Here's some pix...
I'm holding The Starter with 2 fingers,
And With The Brace Attached...

I'm going to get to work!

IMG_1993.JPG

IMG_1997.JPG

Re: Mini Starter...Are You Happy With Yours?
 

I'm just a tad confused because you suggest chucking the braces but were "necessary for high compression".

Never knew about this brace, maybe it's in the assembly manual someplace. All I know is I junked the OER starter for a a Delco mini with these bolts or type (Dorman bolts p/n# 678-107), and it starts in a pinch and smoothly.