[79firebird_99TA]

Hi. Been a while since I've been here. I've not driven the Firebird in over a year and a half. I'm wanting to change the starter from a stock full size to a gear reduction. I have Hedman headers. Can anyone recommend a good starter?

[79firebird_99TA]

I'm thinking about the Powermaster Ultra Torque 9410NM. Any opinions?

[Skip Fix]

I have a Tildon om the 78 for years. I did have to reclock solenoid-which required drilling and tapping new holes. A McRobb on the Camaro/IA which is easy to clock.

[ZeGermanHam]

Powermaster 9510 is the one to get.

[jhein]

+1 on the Powermaster 9510

[TedRamAirII]

I worry about that gear, hanging out in the wind, without support.

[ZeGermanHam]

Originally Posted by TedRamAirII

I worry about that gear, hanging out in the wind, without support.

The 9510 on my brother's 461ci has been working flawlessly for years. No issues and it totally transformed how well his car starts, particularly when hot.

[79firebird_99TA]

9510 it is!

Thanks.

[Formula8]

RobbMc: https://www.robbmcperformance.com/pr...c_starter.html

[wakesupremo]

I have the MSD unit on mine. Been spot on for years. No issues at all.

[Formulajones]

I prefer the Robbmc with the gear support. Only mini for Pontiac that offers it that I'm aware of.
Plus his customer support is excellent. He has warrantied stuff that he didn't have to, and has had quick turn around even today with all the excuses everyone else uses.

There are quirks about these mini starters in general I don't care for but I deal with that no matter what the brand.

[track73]

Everything Formulajones has said, Robbmc for me.

[racegto65]

I use this one.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/csi-102p

[srmmmm]

I used this one from Summit:

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...s-am/year/1970

Customer reviews were good on it and it performed well when the engine went on the dyno for break in and tuning.

[P@blo]

Powermaster 9510 15 years working great and good customer service.

[64speed]

ROBBMC

[TCSGTO]

Originally Posted by 79firebird_99TA

I'm thinking about the Powermaster Ultra Torque 9410NM. Any opinions?

Running the 9410 for 4 years now, still spins like new. It’s rated 50ft.lbs higher than the 9510 XS and is about $50 more. A Summit mini struggled and I had issues with the pinion gear coming loose on a RobbMc.

[Formulajones]

The pinion gear coming loose is a real problem on all of them.
When dad was running the other mini starter mentioned in this thread, the snap ring would come off eventually. The big problem with that is those starters don't have pinion support. So the gear goes flying off. If you're lucky like he was that day, you find it laying in the grass, slide it back on for another restart and drive it straight home. If your not so lucky to find the gear you're calling a hook.

At least with the Robbmc and the pinion support the gear stays on the shaft and doesn't go anywhere. In fact he drove it a few months like that before fixing it. Yes the Robbmc starters lose the gear too. Retention is with a small ball bearing and lock tight. We've had the gear come loose twice on a Robbmc. Neither time left us stranded as with the nose support it doesn't fall off and both times robb fixed it for free when the starter was several years old so I can't complain. Great service.
That's just one of the quirks with these mini starters you have to deal with. At least with the nose support I don't worry about being stranded next time it happens. There will be a next time lol

[carcrazy]

Used RobbMc for years without issue on a high compression,. 600+ hp 461.

[rohrt]

This is funny to me.

I was looking at the price
https://www.amazon.com/Powermaster-9.../dp/B003TQ6A4W

I can see a crack in the casting.