Trying to make sure I have all the correct information here before making a move.

I am looking to get a mini starter to replace the OE style starter on my 85.

I have heard that an LT1 style starter and also the 5.7 starters off a tahoe are the mini style.

Here is the OE starter for a 95 350 Tahoe:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...RPSTRTAMS____#

This starter is about half the weight of the bulky gargantuan starter on my car and significantly smaller.

Here is a starter for a 95 LT1 camaro:

http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/web...PSTRTAMS_____#

Looks like the only difference is the Tahoe starter has offset mounting holes while the LT1 has straight across holes. Will either one work?

 

No
Starter style relates to flywheel / flexplate type
and they don't interchange even though both will bolt up to the engine fine
( so long as you have the 3 bolt holes , not 2 in the block )

If stock, your car should have the smaller 153 tooth flexplate which takes a starter with inline bolts.
Offset bolt pattern starter is for the larger 168 tooth flexplate ( commonly used on trucks)
Visually check what type starter you have before buying a new one

 

88-96 vette, 93-97 f-body, caprice in those years all work.
153 tooth flywheels use starters with in-line holes.
168 tooth flywheel starters have starter holes like that tahoe and the pinion gear won't mesh with your flexplate's ring gear.

 

88-96 vette, 93-97 f-body, caprice in those years all work.
153 tooth flywheels use starters with in-line holes.
168 tooth flywheel starters have starter holes like that tahoe and the pinion gear won't mesh with your flexplate's ring gear.

 

Thanks for clearing that up guys. Didn't know the difference is flexplate teeth was great enough to require a different starter.

I do indeed have a 153 tooth chromoly flexplate.

So the LT1 style starter will work no problem then?

Also, with these mini starters I see some stock style with the gear nose and some with no nose and an open gear. What's the difference of running one over the other?

 

Vette is cone-less. LT1 has a cone.

Just another way of designing it.

 

My OEM stock starter was dying so I just replaced it with a Summit Racing Mini High-Torque Starter SUM-829100 that cost me around $100 bucks http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-829100 . I didn't need to shim it or anything. Removed that MAMMOTH STARTER that came with the Firebird and stuck this powerful little guy in there. Easy. The car fires right up every time

 

I was running the Powermaster Mini High Torque-High Speed starter on my 87 355 and loved it, but I took out the solenoid by cranking too long for a few months instead of my usual short cranking( had to correct my cranking fuel MAP). I wasn't able to get the solenoid quickly so I just put in a factory gear reduction starter for a Tahoe( I run a 168 tooth flexplate) and it's been working fine. Eventually I will replace the solenoid on the mini high torque and put it back into service.

 

I don't think a 93-up LT1 camaro uses a starter like the 88-96 corvette does. The f-body might be a mini-starter by size but the corvette uses a gear reduction starter. Put a vette starter on and you will not have a problem again with heat soak. I have a 90 vette and it will crank over in any condition even 110 degree days when the a/c has been on.

 

That Vette starter in the photo is a Denso design gear reduction starter. It is a better, more rugged, design that the typical planetary type gear reduction starters. The only weakness they have is the contacts in the solenoid which are replaceable.

 

ASE doc - Now I'm a little worried. I didn't re-map anything, am I going to blow up my solenoid?

 

I'm sorry for causing you worry. No you won't blow anything up. Just avoid long cranking. Even when I didn't have my crank fuel tuned to start quickly on the first turn of the key, I used to just bump the starter for no more than a second at a time. Last year I guess I had a long senior moment and started just cranking the engine until it would start. It may have taken 3 or 4 seconds at times. The Powermaster starters, according to their tech line, are not designed for this and the contacts in the solenoid fuse together.

That's how I took out my solenid. Before that, I was running that starter for 7 years without a glitch. I like it because it cranks the engine at a higher speed which is good on my somewhat radical engine. However, with my cranking fuel dialed in, the engine starts up quickly now even with the OE gear reduction unit. If I do have an issue sometime, I just don't crank the starter for more than 2 seconds at a time. Of course if you run headers, you should invest in a starter wrap for added insurance.

 

If you look at some of the ones at Summit, some of them will fit both the 153 & 168 tooth flywheel. You can find some decent hi-torque minis for around $100.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-829000/

 

I also have a 85 iroc, motor was swapped out for a 350. With that said I have no clue which starter I need. Went to autozone and have the wrong one. My block has three holes two straight and one diagonal. Any suggestions as to which starter I need??? I would like to have a high output one with my application

 

Holy dead thread batman!!!

Just hop on Summit and pick up a hitachi style starter.

 

I look into it, thank you for the feedback on an old post.... I hope that starter works