I have a friend that has a 1969 Olds Cutlass 350cid. The car has headers and he keeps going through starters. He ended up buying a small performance starter for the car...to keep it away from the header. The starter bolts up but the gear in the starter isn't even close to the flex plate when engaged. I appreciate any suggestions. Thanks

 

Can you post a PN, make and model of the starter. Is his engine stock?

 

X2, it sounds like the wrong application. I run one on my 455 and it works like magic. Every time.

 

The engine is stock. The starter he bought is a universal one. He bought the starter through Amazon. The starter is from a company named Demotor. Any suggestions were he can get the correct high performance starter?

 

A lot of the Aftermarket starters are Pontiac/Olds and need to be clocked a certain way to have them fit either application.
Are there multiple holes where the motor mounts to the mounting block?

It was like this on my Jegs unit and power master.

-pete

 

Yes....we tried ever hole. The starter gear is no were near the flex plate. So what did you do in your situation?

 

I like the Powermaster XS or mastertorque starters
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pw...ake/oldsmobile

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/pw...ake/oldsmobile

 

I have a power master XS, fits perfect and works great. No need to clock the position or shim the starter.

 

Thanks for the info guys...I appreciate it.

 

I have a mastertorque. Put it in a while ago but it was pretty much plug and play. Works great.

 

I have headers on my car and a factory style starter. No issues in 20+years of operation.

 

^^^This. I've never had a problem with a factory starter (NOT a Chinesium rebuilt starter) and headers.

Also, the mini starters that have multiple clocking holes in the mounting block, the pinion and starter shaft pivot around the center of the shaft, so changing clocking has no effect on pinion to ring gear clearance.

There is no "universal" mini-starter for an Olds motor. You need the correct one for an Olds/Pontiac. Shims will only put the pinon further away from the ring gear.