I'm looking at all the different mini starters at Summit. Summit has one for $146 that is more powerful than the CSR for $229, but will it last? Powermaster is another in the price range. What brands have you guys been using and been happy with? thanks!

I bought a late modle GM gear starter for around $90.00. It works good. I have a friend that put one on his 454 truck 2years ago. It still works fine.
John

Get a Hitachi PN# PSL100
Those things are great!
Super light, high torque...

I have the Powermaster in a 12.5 to 1 540. Very nicely thought out starter. Turns over the 540 very well. I took it over the Hitachi because you have the option of using all three mounting bolt holes in the big block, which I did.

XS Torqe spins my 454.

I like my Tilton. graemlins/beers.gif

thanks for the repsonses guys. Do you mind including a part number with the brand. Powermaster, Tilton, Mcleod, Summit all have 3 or 4 different ones to choose from.
Do you all have the most expensive one your brand sells or the cheapest? I want to get a good starter butdon't want to pay more than neccessary to get the job done. thanks again.

I've tried a few different mini starters (including PowerMaster), and IMHO CVR makes the best starter for the $$$. I think I paid around $149 for mine and it's been in the car for 4 years without a problem. No shimming necessary. A friend of mine that I race with was having tons of starter related problems. Went through about three different mini starters. They were eating his flexplate up. The shimming was correct as verified with a wire gauge. Switched to a CVR and he's been a happy camper ever since (no shims on his either).

Powermaster XS Torque Racing Starter
part #9526 Chevy staggered mount/168 tooth flywheel.
$219.00
I needed no shims either for perfect alingment plus I was able to use 3 mounting bolts for extra clamping force. Decisions, decisions....

Look on ebay under mini starter. There are alot!

Several (not all) of the mini starters are the same exact unit sold under different names, and only vary by price. The common one uses a Nissan Sentra starter with an adapter plate. That's why the threads are metric - Nissan. I use the cheap one and it has worked great.

IMI 102 mini-starter on my 454 boat engine. This starter is Coast Guard approved, and the claim is 500+ ft/lbs of torque using a 4.44:1 gear drive.

About $200 from Rex Marine: www.rexmar.com/page306.html (http://www.rexmar.com/page306.html)

I'm using a CSI Platinum series mini on my small block. Works great! Not too cheap though. I had a generic mini starter from Tommy Johnson before, what a piece of crap.

i'd stick with the starters GM sells- they are light and are proven durable or they wouldn't have put them in cars and trucks by the millions.
if you have a small flywheel, get one for a 94 Caprice with the LT1.
if you have a big flywheel, get one for a late 90's truck with a 454.
i could dig up the gm part numbers out of the GMPP catalog, but that would take all the fun out of it for you.