Pros Cons ? Were can i get one ?

 

At your GM dealer.

 

I got the GM 12361146 ministarter pictured above, after seeing the many recommendations here. It might not be a direct electrical replacement for your vette's starter; it wasn't for mine ('71 big block with standard ignition). There are a few cons to going this route, some that I did not discover until installing it:

1. There is no "R" terminal on the solenoid to supply +12v to the coil while cranking. If you have an HEI setup or use an electronic ignition box, this isn't a problem... but if you have a stock points-style or unilite distributor with external coil (like mine) it is a problem. The standard ignition is designed to operate on the 6 to 9 volts fed to it through via resistor wire between the ignition switch and the coil, and a continuous 12-15 volts could burn the points or damage the unilite element. The wire from the solenoid's R terminal supplies the coil with a full 12v only while cranking to make starting easier. Without an R terminal connected to the coil, the car will not fire while the starter is turning... you have to crank the starter a few times, and then when you release the key only then will the car fire (kinda like roll starting it with the starter). You may have to do this a few times before it works, and I doubt if it will work very well in the cold. The cheapest solution to this is to install a relay (see Re: Starter wiring- need help, not an electrician (Pedro'74) ) to replace the function of the R terminal. If there is a different or better way to do this (without the added expense of replacing the ignition system or solenoid), I haven't found it yet.

2. The sound. I was afraid of this one: it sounds a little bit like a Honda or Toyota starting (until it fires of course), definitely a different and higher pitched sound than the stock starter.

3. You'll have to change the connector on the S-terminal wire from a ring to a female spade, and maybe have to change (I don't remember) the ring terminal on the wire to the horn relay to a different size ring. I think the main battery cable ring connector size is okay. No big deal, but it's something to consider.

4. It's friggin' expensive, about $160 to $200 ($50-$150 more than a stock replacement). It is available at PACE Performance- 12361146 - High-Torque Mini-Starter and others places; I got mine at gmpartsdirect.com for about $180 including shipping.

On the positive side: it fits fine, it's lighter, and it has a cool red bowtie on it. I haven't tried a good heat soak yet to see if it solved that problem. It still sits about an inch from a header pipe.

I'm thinking about going back to the stock starter (or the Powermaster stock-style) with a heat blanket and selling the ministarter. Lemme know if you're interested in it ;)



[Modified by 71 BHG 454, 1:52 AM 6/22/2002]

 

You make some excellent points. Thank you for that. My 1979 is HEI and it just bolted on so I assumed....Yes it does sound a bit odd but only for a few seconds of coursr. As to heat soak, I used mine in the heat of last July and it never failed me once.

 

Here's what I used, it worked out great. . .

GM mini starter $35. Works GREAT!
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=133879