RobbMc Performance Products News
Volume 2, Issue 5
November 2008
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A MINI HISTORY OF THE MINI STARTER
The gear reduced (GR) mini starter is hugely popular today on muscle cars and racing engines. They work so much better than the older, heavier starters that they became standard equipment on OEM American V8 engines in the 1990's. But even before the Big Three began using them, aftermarket companies were supplying them to racers and hot rodders as early as the late 1970's. However, the way it all started is not as straight forward as you might think. In fact, some of the very first GR mini starters for American V8's were designed to replace Chrysler starters on Chevy engines with Volkswagen ring gears! Truth is often stranger than fiction.

In the 1970's, circle track and sports car racers were looking for ways to lower V8 powered cars for better handling. Unfortunately, the large diameter ring gears used on American V8 flywheels limited how far the cars could be lowered. The large bellhousings (covering the large flywheels) were often the lowest part of the engine.

At the time, air cooled VW engines were still very common on the streets of America. By using a small multiple plate clutch, it was possible to make a small diameter flywheel for a Chevy V8 using a 109 tooth VW ring gear. This smaller flywheel also allowed the use of a smaller bellhousing. Unfortunately, the VW ring gear was not compatible with the stock Chevy starter. Not only was the position of the stock starter wrong for the VW ring gear, but the pitch on the teeth was different. Fortunately, the pitch on the teeth of the stock Chrysler starter matched that of the VW ring gear. So adapter plates were made to bolt a large Chrysler gear reduced starter to the now smaller Chevy bellhousing, placing the starter at the correct position to mesh with the VW ring gear.

While the Chrysler starter worked, it was still bulky and tended to interfere with headers and oil pans. It wasn't long before someone noticed that the gear on a Hitachi GR mini starter for a Datsun was also compatible with the VW ring gear. So, someone machined an adapter for the Hitachi starter so that it could bolt in place of the Chrysler starter. And thus began the GR mini starter craze.

It wasn't long before adapters (and compatible gears) were designed so that the GR Hitachi mini starter could be used in place of stock starters on many different V8 applications, including those still using the stock ring gears. The Hitachi versions became so popular that soon people began adapting other Japanese GR starters (such as the Nippon Denso) to American V8 engines. To this day, the Hitachi and ND style GR starters are still the most popular aftermarket mini starters.

As popular as they are, the versions of the Hitachi and ND style starters used in most mini starters are no longer the latest technology. The introduction of planetary gear reduction and permanent magnet motors in the 1990's make it possible to create starters which are even smaller, lighter and more efficient.

RobbMc GR mini starters not only use planetary gear reduction and permanent magnet motors, but they also offer infinite solenoid positioning and an optional pinion support cone for reduced pinion gear deflection. This combination of features is available nowhere else, making RobbMc mini starters unique in the industry.

— RM 		Special Holiday Offer

Purchase any RobbMc Performance 550HP Fuel
Pump and receive a FREE RobbMc Small Filter.
Purchase any RobbMc Performance 1100HP Fuel
Pump and receive a FREE RobbMc Large Filter.
Free Filter offer is valid until December 31, 2008. Standard shipping costs apply to fuel pump and filter purchase. You MUST mention this newsletter offer when purchasing a RobbMc Fuel Pump to receive your free RobbMc fuel filter. Please specify filter micron size.
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