First off, do yourself a favor and buy them from R.A.R.E so you will get the larger 2-1/2" openings instead of the 2-1/4" that everyone else sells and for the same price no less.
Second, you can still use a stock starter with NO issues at all even with LBMs. I don't know why everyone assumes you have to go to an expensive high torque mini. I ran a $39.99 stock starter with a lifetime warranty from AutoZone with a stock heat shield on my bird for 6 years. I never once had to unbolt my LBMs on my Bird or any others to get a stock starter on or off.
As mentioned, you will need the oil filter adapter, you can get this from R.A.R.E. as well and do yourself a favor and get the install bolt kit for the LBMs and the oil filter adapter and a manifold gasket set from them as well all at the same time. The guys there will treat you right!!
As for the high heat coatings, I've bought them both ways and had mixed results. My first set the coating did not hold up. HOWEVER, I mentioned this to the guys at R.A.R.E. in passing and they told me to send them to them. I did, they recoated them and sent them back. I had to pay for shipping to get them there, that was all. Those LBMs are now on a 61 Safari wagon and holding up quite nicely. So maybe the first coating was not as good, I don't know.
Another set I bought and put on another car, I did not opt for the coating and coated them myself with a product from Bill Hirsh paints. So far the results are EXCELLENT and much cheaper than having them coated by R.A.R.E. so that would be a judgement call.
Also, do yourself a favor and buy the correct/matching 2-bolt flange and bolt kits for bolting up your exhaust pipes to the LBMs. People often skip these parts to save money then expect their exhaust shop to make their existing system mate up tightly to the LBMs. Having the correct flanges will allow the exhaust shop to do this correctly and makes for a nice, clean professional install vs. a sloppy, leaky crap install.
As much as like Ames, when it comes to LBMs, these are the guys to deal with:
