Hey folks. Could somebody please recommend me a high torque/mini starter for my 5.7 v8 sbo. Something mid range price wise. Thank you in advance. Also, I've been doing a little research and I came up with 166 teeth on the flex plate? Is this correct? I'm just trying to get the right stuff installed.

 

The sbc mini starters also work, believe it or not. Basically you get the starter to work with your headers, if you have them. Certain starters like Summit have issues like over tightening the the power connection, yes it is a real thing, I did it. The Powermaster brand is good, some of the off brand are fine, look at the reviews.

 

Summit makes an Olds/Pontiac 166 tooth mini starter I use them on several cars been pretty good,

 

RobbMc makes an excellent mini-starter and you can get the nose cone option for very high compression engines.

 

X 2 for Powermaster. I've had a 9510 in my (mostly stock) '69 4-4-2 for about five years now ... no complaints.

 

If you have the room for an OEM starter I’ve been running an Olds diesel starter on my 350 SBO for years with no issues.

 

Powermaster 9510 here.

 

X2 RobbMc

 

I appreciate your comments, thank you.

 

Looks like I'm pointing in the direction of the power Master 9510. Thanks OG's I appreciate it!

 

I have the Robb Mc on my SBO - works beautifully

 

I may be mistaken, but doesn't the diesel flywheel have a slightly smaller ring gear? The reason I ask is because I bought a '69 that had a diesel block converted to gas already. It had that huge diesel starter on it that wouldn't fit with hooker super comp headers. I bought a RobMC mini starter for an Olds and the pinion was too small to engage the ring gear. They sent me a new pinion gear that had 1 more tooth...i think for a Pontiac or Buick (not sure) and it would then ingage. Does your starter have any spacers to space it away from the block any?

 

I have the original flywheel from the 260 Olds (I’m pretty certain) on my 350 and the starter is on with no mods or shims. It’s worked without issue. When I was running long tube Cyclone headers years ago I had to hammer a few tubes to get the starter to fit. It is a big starter motor compared to the stock 260 starter that I replaced due to constant heat soak and failure to restart the engine.

 

Interesting....

 

You'll like the PowerMaster 9510.

When my car was delivered from upholstery and paint (1500 miles away), the driver had to start and stop my car MANY times to get it out of the trailer (the clutch linkage adjustment had come loose and the clutch pedal was nearly useless). I was amazed at how fast the 9510 turned the engine over and how fast the car started each time. And, the cranking speed from the first start to the last sounded identical.

None of that would have turned out so well with the original Delco starter--it probably would have drained the battery and overheated by then.

 

RobbMC. Great starter.