Anyone know if there's a correct OEM starter that works with the LBM's?

(A part number would be GREAT)

The manifold bolted up but there's hardly any clearance between the starter and the tube.

Looks like it will burn my starter up, or at least shorten its life-span. And I will definitely have to pull the manifold to change the starter.

I know that the hi-torque mini starters will work but I would rather have the factory correct starter if possible...

Surely there were smaller bodied starters on them from the factory.

Thanks for the help.

PV

As far as I know(limited) they used a full sized HD starter even with the LBs. Not sure how long they lasted but I'd guess only a couple of years with the heat generated by the mans. I know it's not what you want to hear but you'll save yourself a whole lot of headache if you just go with a mini.

Thanks Firebob....

I guess Mini it is! lol

I've got 8+ years of LBM's with the stock starter that was already in my car.

that's good to know because that's the route I'm going. Thanks!

I am running the stock starter too. I have had a couple heat soak issues but for the amount I drive the car its no big deal.

If original poster is looking for originality, I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the solenoid heat shield...

It is my understanding that a little shield was exactly how Pontiac dealt with the heat on long-branch equipped cars, straight from the factory...while it doesn't protect the entire starter, it does protect the solenoid from excessive manifold heat, which is actually the part of the starter most likely to contribute to hot-start problems.

Repros of this shield are cheap and sold everywhere:
solenoid heat shield

Other excellent solutions to this problem in my mind that have not yet been mentioned, if OP wants to avoid going to a mini (or maybe in addition to going to a mini):

1. Have the manifolds ceramic coated. Available in any color you could dream of...including OEM-looking cast grey. This not only helps them to look perfect forever and protects your investment, it also reduces heat production significantly, protecting the starter and everything else under the hood, and reducing heat transfer thru the firewall.

2. Aftermarket starter wraps, such as this:
Starter wrap

3. Another less original, but extremely common and effective mod: Install a remote solenoid ala Ford. The lovely interweb is chock full of wiring diagrams of this little project...

I'm all for originality when it makes sense but I had terrible heat soak with my stock starter. After unbolting the manifolds several times to drop the starter it just made more sense to get the mini. I went with the RobbMc starter. It can be clocked for the best fitment with the wires and can be droped with out removing the LBM.

Same reason I changed mine over. The last straw was coming home from a Good Guys show and had to stop for gas. People walking by saying wow nice ride and all that then had to push it down the steet to bump start it. Embarrassing to say the least. I swore that would be the last time, and it was. Of course at the time I was running around 200 lbs of cranking compression. That didn't help with the heat soak issues either.
Anybody want to buy a spare starter?

I used a new OEM starter with my LBMs and the original heat shield. Been on almost four years now, some heat soak starts when just off at a store or gas station for a few minutes (slow turning) but she always catches.