Anyone have any experience with the high torque mini starters. I’m having the heat soak problem, often having to wait a long time to be able to restart. I’ve read where these mini starters solve that problem.

Also, are some universal?... usable on Pontiacs and Chevies? Brand? Advice?

I have one in my bird. IMI Hi-Torque. Turns my 463 CI 10.5/1CR over in 100F+ temps after driving four hours and it's so hot my wife and I are getting heat exhaustion.

The basic motor itself is the same on these for most applications and it's only the adapter block that is type specific. I think, don't know, that the same one fits Chebby and Pontiac. One has to index the motor on the block to rotate it as far away from the exhaust as possible. I can't see why yours would get heat drag unless it's resting right against the header pipe. Or is it the stock starter you have the heat soak in? My 69 GTO had a real heat problem, put a new starter in and same thing, put a mini starter in and presto! Worked great.

One thing I would recommend is using a Ford style starter relay, that re-routes the Purple 'start' wire away from the starter and heat. The 'start' wire from the ignition switch goes to the remotely mounted relay and the only wire that goes to the starter is the cable. The cable is only electrically charged when the key is in the start position. A jumper is included with the starter to hook up this way. See the beautiful drawing I had commissioned at Great sacrifice and expense. I have the charge wire going to mune, it's a great place to attach accessories as well. I've hooked up my remote start switch to it a few times as well while setting up the.engine. I have mine Mounted on the inner fender right near the battery, but if you are worried about originality they can be hidden.

One problem I did have was the aluminium block came loose from the starter, had to roll down a hill to get it going to get home. Some lock tight on the bolt threads have solved that.

Yes. Stock starter being used.

I had considered the Ford type solenoid as an option. Would that solve my heat soak issue? It sure would be a lot less expensive. Do you have this hooked up to your mini starter?

I was in Italy last fall. While in Florence, I’m almost sure I saw an interpretation of your artwork along with Micheal Angelo’s “David”.

I have that set up on my diesel mower- minus brands etc. The relay set up works fn fantastic. Bluebird is right on.

Whats up BB- havent talked to you in forever..You doin ok?

Just realized your both BB- HA HA Hope you are both doing good!

All good down here. Everyone is healthy...just gettin’ old.

How’s life in Iowa?

I've been thru about three or four minis on my car. I will say that up until the current one all of the others have been used before I bought them. They all seemed to last a few years before they started to heat soak. I sent the last one( an MSD) to be rebuilt. The guy said it looked like it had been burned up by cranking it with not enough voltage supply to the starter. Had to upgrade all the battery cables to get more juice to the starter. Bought a new mini this time. We'll see. Those headers put out a lot of heat.

BB- Yes I have the solenoid hooked up with my Hi-torque starter. Will post pic. Been in there for seven or eight years.
One other snag with the mini starters is the hole in the bellhousing inspection plate. The snout of the mini starter is smaller that the stock starter so the hole isn't completely filled. They say no big deal but I was afraid a stone may get in so I built a plate type cover. Will post pics.
You found me out, In modesty I try to let on someone else is doing the artwork, but now I've been exposed.

Sled- Things good here, have had surgeries cancelled but still managing with the use of one arm. Haven't been to a store in six weeks, running out of beer. I'll have to get another pallet load.

Bob- Yes those headers do put out a lot of heat. I'm sure I could cook a roast beast dinner under the hood in about an hour of driving time.
With your battery in the trunk you'd have to run some pretty heavy cables up to the starter, I'd ground that battery through the body and frames and also run a ground up to the block at the starter.
MSD starter? Personally I wouldn't put anything with an MSD logo on my car, even if it was given to me. Not after the pain I went through with one of their 'ready to NOT run' distributors. Came pre-corroded, with a pre-bent shaft, same internals as one of those $90 Chinese crap distributors that fell apart on me 100 miles from home. Even the shaft diameter was screwed, larger diameter so I had to spring another $100 for a composite distributor gear with the correct diameter bore. All that just to take the piece of crap back to the store and rebuild a GM original. MSD is the same as the aftermarket crap you mentioned in your other post. Just thought I'd add to your rant.

Of course, all this is just my opinion, I'm not an expert.

Forgot one

This mini starter has been in my car for 11-12 years no without any problems and has always started my engine even after driving around when it it 100+ degrees outside. Most issues are from poor wiring and grounding.