Thread: Mini Starter for 350, any favorites?

Tweet

There is a nice thread that includes Powermaster John discussion how to measure clearences. I am leaning toword Summit Racing Pwm9100. This might be a matter of taste : conflict with old school look?

I'm running a Powermaster 9600 with my 350 and I love it NOW, but I had some moments when I first started using it that I had my doubts. I couldn't get the starter to disengage from the flexplate, no matter how I shimmed it. Here is the post I did back in August of last year when I finally sorted out the problem:
_________________________________________________________________

Oh, thought I would pass along what we learned about the starter problem, in case anyone else has similar issues. When I went back and pulled up Jag454's thread in our archieves, the Tech guy from Powermaster said there should be 15/16 inches of clearance from the centerline of the mounting bolts to the front facing edge of the flexplate or flywheel. When I measured mine, it was about 7/8, so my flexplate was further forward than the perfect dimension.

I called B and M because I am using their flexplate, and the guy there (not the most helpful one I have ever run into ) said if the counterweights were on the front of my flexplate I had it on right. They were. So the obvious thing was to make up a thicker shim to move the starter more forward, away from the flexplate. Dan made up one out of 1/8 inch plate, and that did the trick. There is now sufficient clearance between the starter gear and flexplate. Dan is going to make up a permanent spacer out of aluminum and tig it to the mounting base now that we know it works this way.

I'm not sure what is going on with these aftermarket, high performance starters. There have been numerous posts on lots of forums about people having clearance issues with them. Gee, for years all we did was go to the local auto parts store, buy a starter, and bolt it on. Now we have these high tech starters and they seem to need fine tuning. Very strange.
_________________________________________________________________

But now that the bugs are out of it I love it, and no kidding, it fires my engine in like one revolution. It is VERY strong. Just make sure you have the 15/16 clearance they call for, and you will be ok. Here is a picture of mine.

Don

I've used a couple of Sumit brand hi torque starters with no problems.

I had a tilton..It was crap

they are all made by the J E pan company every one puts there spin on them but there is two type nippondenso and the hitachi that is what tilton used .the one dons has in has T is the nippondenso type any one of them will spin a 350 EZ

I got mine from DB Electrical(google website) I recommended them to others who bought from them,and the feedback is A+ and the prices are the best! Give them a call,real nice folks!

I've got one from Summit in the truck, and Tiltons in the race cars....No problems with either.

Thank you guys for answering. Really good info especially the 15/16"
Thanks Don.

Okay, I mounted the Powermaster 9100 up. I have the 15/16" cneterline to flexplate gear. Now the .062 min clearence is just barely met. Powermaster suggestted I mount upside down. That did not work (will not bolt up and clear flexplate gear!!). I hate to tear into the new starter to add the ring spacer as advised on their web site. A 1/16 drill bit clears most gear to gear places as flexplate is moved but this starter has a protruding center hub that has slightly less than 1/16" clearence to ring gear. Still have more stuff to hook up b-4 firing engine.