starter for a Chevy

[Dave Severson]

Question for you Chevy guys.... I'm a Ford guy and always just use the Ford Hi-Torque mini starter. Friend of mine runs a bracket car with an SBC in it and is fed up with the OEM full size starters failing on his 11:5 CR small block. Wondering what you sbc guys use for a mini starter that will stand up on a bracket racer????

[pat mccarthy]

stock full HD size start 14.8 cr 548 no big deal . delco part s heavy green field (caddy ) hd big roller drive iron nose . small stuff most are hitachi or nippondenso not allways a done deal many times they need the mounting block tuned in to work happy wiith fly wheel

[jerry clayton]

the proper knurled mounting bolts are needed to be used to locate the starter properly--also on full size starters there is/was a brace that bolted on the front---


and header pipe heat also hurts them-----

[pat mccarthy]

the only time i went to the smaller starters were when big tube headders got in the way . i still have the big GM field starter on the one 548 and work great .like jerry said front strap and bolts all play in to this working but the heavy roller drive . iron nose along with the big field with good delco parts is key

[Dave Severson]

Unfortunately, big tube headers, small chassis, and quick turn times with a bracket car means that the big housing starters die from the heat soak issues.... His last starter was a brand new Delco, it lasted a bit longer then the remans but there's still just not enough room in the car to make the big starters live. Yes, he's even managed to squeeze in a store bought heat shield and a custom made heat shield for the big starter. The question is, which of the small case Hi-Torque starters are the best bang for the buck?

[HWORRELL]

Dave, I only have experience with the Tilton.But I bought it in the late 80's and used it on several dirt stock car engines both big block and small block. Last thing it was on was the 305 sprinter and that was a deal where ya locked it in gear and hit the starter button.( only for 1 season,yeah they came to their senses.) I Can tell you it was durable,but can't tell you much about the heat deal because of what it was in.

[pat mccarthy]

all small starter less the perment mag Gm s.many are base off the hitachi most common and tilton use them many others . the guts are all about the same seen lower dollar hitachi guts get put in the tilton nose . mostly the nippondenso are abit bigger top heavy

[cffisher]

Went through 4 different Small starters on the Nova they all failed got Stock starter from Chevy dealer and no problem. The small ones had a nylon or some material in them for a fork which just opened up and stoped the drive from engaging.

[Dave Severson]

Heck, I was hoping that Chevy made a good small case starter like Ford has that would stay together. Guess it's just kind of pick and choose from the aftermarket starters for a Chevy.....?????

[jerry clayton]

No DAve---Chev does have small starters on the later stuff, and they work very good with just the simple, basic, correct mechanics done---proper mounting, good grounds and cables so theres no voltage drop, etc---

[Dave Severson]

No DAve---Chev does have small starters on the later stuff, and they work very good with just the simple, basic, correct mechanics done---proper mounting, good grounds and cables so theres no voltage drop, etc---

Good, thanks Jerry! On my Ford's, the only starter I've ever had decent service out of is the Ford starter! Probably try the same thing with the Chevy's!!!!!

[pat mccarthy]

yes Gm makes a small starter #9000852 168 tooth .and #10455702 153 tooth needs a 12 3/4fly wheel and #10465143 12.3/4 wheel 153 tooth some of the starter on this list do not have a wire field . fix magnets you drop it your S.O.L

[Dave Severson]

Thanks for the numbers, Pat!!!! Passed them along to the guy that owns the car!