[Nitebird]

I am planning on buying a Summit brand Protorque Mini Starter for my Pontiac 455. The engine will have headers...most likely Hooker or Hedman. It will be going into a 79 Trans Am SE with 4speed.

Does anybody have any experience with that brand?

If I don't buy that one I will also look at getting the Powermaster brand....anybody have experience with that one?

[ponyakr]

I bought one of the Summit starters for my 455 bracket motor. It works just fine. Will whirl the motor over and start it, even when hot. But you have to rotate the head to make 'em fit. Out of the box, the solenoid will hit the block and prevent bolt-up.

I fought those old stock starters for years. lost several races because of a no-start. I think these mini starters are a great invention.

If you don't mind spending a little more, I've heard good things about the RobbMc starters.

http://www.robbmcperformance.com/pro...c_starter.html

[indymanjoe]

I bought mine from a friend who stored it for 2yrs(thought his poor cranking was the starter going out,had other issues.).Been in my car all summer no issues at all.

[dmac]

Used one for years- had to rotate it to get it to bolt in easy.

[TCSGTO]

Had mine for over 5 years. Turns over my 455 with 18 degrees initial hot or cold no problem.

[Chris65LeMans]

Everyone around here swears by the IMI. I've had mine for a couple of months now, and love it. Link

[78w72]

another vote for the summit, i have one on a 10.7 467 with e-heads & hooker super comp headers. its a tight fit with those big 2" tubes but it seems to work great.

[goatless]

I've got a few of them in use. The one on my Lemans has been on there for many years without issue.

[BLUE TA]

Hi Guys, I bought one about 3 years ago. its worked great for me on a 74 455, even on 100 plus degree days here in c. cali. so im happy with it.

[Nitebird]

Thanks for the feed back guys!

[Skip Fix]

I had one in the 81 had to turn it upside down to clear the RA manifolds. Had to replace it after 3 years.

[miragesmack67]

Probably not the cheapest but these are the best, they are NOT the Hitachi style starters.

http://www.robbmcperformance.com/pro...c_starter.html

[grivera]

I bought a Summit starter for my 69 bird and even with the rotation of the solenoid, it wouldn't fit with the LB manifolds. At the time, I had read on another forum that the Summit starters were made by CSR.

I ended up selling the Summit unit and buying the RARE Inc. house brand starter. It provides plenty of clearance with the LB manifolds. The mounting block on the RARE unit has IMI stamped into it...go figure. By the way, it has been trouble free...

[Don 79 TA]

i've had great results using the IMI starter
one of my friends had the powermaster one
neither of us have had issues
personally i tend to stay away from house brand/generic stuff
but thats just me, when somethings cheap/cheaper... its usually for a reason