mini starters for a 1966 273 header install

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cudajames

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I am in the process of installing headers on my 66 barracuda with a 273. My options seem pretty limited.

TTI recommended using the Mini Starter (item # 123-1000) from 440source. I have verified that the starter can work with small and big block engines
Anybody with any experience with this starter?

I also found a Rareelectrical r53005984. Any experience with that?

What is everybody else using?

Oh, and any help on a 90 degree (right angle) oil filter adapter

thanks
 
Hello - I have a 66 Barracuda, with Harold Johnson Spitfire Headers. I put a mini starter on, however, the bottom of the starter is making contact where the pitman arm bolts into the steering linkage. I am considering grinding down the top of the bolt in the pitman arm in order to achieve the inch that I need. Does anyone have any other recommendations on getting that clearance?

Thanks!!!!
 
You don't have to shell out mountains of cash for any of the massively overpriced mini starters marketed as custom, "rare" custom problem-solver items. The most compact, block-huggingest starter to suit the application is the stock starter for a 2005-2008 Dodge Ram pickup with 5.7-litre V8 engine and manual transmission (automatic is totally different, will not work). That's this one. It is a coaxial starter—the motor axis is the same as the drive axis—which makes it more compact than the regular mini starters sold (at stupid markup) through MP and by other vendors; those are offset starters (motor axis outboard of drive axis). Pic here and here of this starter on a Slant-6; look how closely it hugs the block.

Unlike the other starters, this one has one of its two mount holes threaded. Drill out the threads so both holes are plain. On the 6-cylinder applications there's an engine-to-bellhousing bolt that interferes with the mount pad of this starter; that problem is easily fixed this way—I don't think you'll hit that problem in the V8 application.

(Don't forget to charge yourself a lot of money for drilling the threads out of that one mounting hole, thus making the starter into a special, custom, "rare", expensive item!)
 
You don't have to shell out mountains of cash for any of the massively overpriced mini starters marketed as custom, "rare" custom problem-solver items. The most compact, block-huggingest starter to suit the application is the stock starter for a 2005-2008 Dodge Ram pickup with 5.7-litre V8 engine and manual transmission (automatic is totally different, will not work). That's this one. It is a coaxial starter—the motor axis is the same as the drive axis—which makes it more compact than the regular mini starters sold (at stupid markup) through MP and by other vendors; those are offset starters (motor axis outboard of drive axis). Pic here and here of this starter on a Slant-6; look how closely it hugs the block.

Unlike the other starters, this one has one of its two mount holes threaded. Drill out the threads so both holes are plain. On the 6-cylinder applications there's an engine-to-bellhousing bolt that interferes with the mount pad of this starter; that problem is easily fixed this way—I don't think you'll hit that problem in the V8 application.

(Don't forget to charge yourself a lot of money for drilling the threads out of that one mounting hole, thus making the starter into a special, custom, "rare", expensive item!)


Great info Dan. Thanks!
 
What is everybody else using?

Oh, and any help on a 90 degree (right angle) oil filter adapter

thanks
Just google Mopar 90 degree adapter, I found NOS ones for $32 on some obscure cloesout website. as for the mini starter, I never had a stock ram style Denso mini that didnt fit a slant, 360 or a 400.
 
Just google Mopar 90 degree adapter, I found NOS ones for $32 on some obscure cloesout website. as for the mini starter, I never had a stock ram style Denso mini that didnt fit a slant, 360 or a 400.

Thanks, I resolved starter and 90 degree filter back in Feb 2015 - just the TTIs did not fit and had a nightmare with the mechanic who was suppose to do the install. I strongly thought about taking the financial hit and selling the car/disassembled. Dark time. But, I resolved to move on- handled the mechanic to a small degree and decided to do as much of my own work as possible moving forward. Which worked out in the end

For a starter - I went with the proform 440-415 - which has done an amazing job, everything clears with no problem. I am using Sanderson headers which are similar to the spitfires
 
I have the Dougs headers (similar to TTI but smaller pipes) & found the standard ministarter would fit with the 9.5" bellhousing. With the 10.5" bellhousing the standard minstarter would fit but just touch the pipes (no good). I ended up going with the Robb MC clockable starter with has huge room but is pricey.

RobbMc Performance Products - Mopar Starter

I wish I had known about this starter before I installed my Doug's headers and realized the starter they recommend, the Mopar Performance mini starter just touched the header pipe that runs beside the starter and the torsion bar. In their defense, they assume you are using the 9.5" bellhousing, and not the larger, 10.5" bellhousing.
One thing I do not like about Pertronix, the owners of Doug's headers, is an end user of their product cannot contact them. No tech line, help line, nothing. So one must rely on a dealer, whose tech line personnel are not familiar with their products. Try to buy replacement gaskets for pipes 3 & 5!

So it appears I either invest $300 in another mini starter or dimple the header pipe... decisions, decisions.
 
Dan how do I tell for sure that it is from a 2005-2008 ram pickup with a 5.7L engine/stick app? can I match it to your pic? I wanna make sure the yard is gonna sells me the right one. thank you! RR
 
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The small bolt head 90 degree adapters are very hard to find , the large ones can be modified to work but not how they tell you
 
You will need a 90 degree adapter that is the early version, like ones that came on a V8 Early A body. They look like the one on the right in the pic below. The bolt head in that pic was shortened by FABO member @65barracudaLA to clear his TTI exhaust pipe hooked to a stock manifold. A stock, thick bolt head may be fine with TTI headers, but check with them to see. If you use a 90 degree adapter like the one on the left in the pic, your oil filter will hit the frame rail. Notice how the one on the left is not a true 90 degrees like the one on the right?
90 degree adapters - SBM.jpg
 
The small bolt head 90 degree adapters are very hard to find , the large ones can be modified to work but not how they tell you
I found one on ebay. Had to buy the whole 90 degree adapter to get it, but just switched bolts with the adapter I already had, then put it back on ebay and sold it for what I had in it. So I ended up with a free bolt. But yeah, they are hard to find.

The small head bolt did clear my TTI headers without further modification.

The money I saved, though, got more than eaten up by the Robb McMaster starter I bought. Then I forgot I already had one and ordered another. Duh. . . . Reckon I'll put the second one on something else.
 
I cut mine like the one on the right but it was very difficult to tighten so i welded a 1/2"-(3/4" head) nut on top , much easier to tighten.
 
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