[DeTomaso] starter

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

FWIW, most of the first generation gear-drive starters were adaptions of a 
Hitachi starter made in Japan for the Nissen 300ZX. Ed Hamburger, McLeod, 
Tilton and many, many others simply added their cast nose and bendix assembly 
for various V-8s. Now there are several newer designs including one from 
Ford. No idea who actually builds it for them, though.

Bottom line: gear drive starters work. Mine is a 1991-vintage and still 
flawlessly starts a smoking-hot modified 351-C within a few turns every time. I 
will be transferring it to my Fontana block when that's ready. 
Also FWIW, some of the gear drive starters used 'automatic tranny' 
architecture for Panteras w/ZF. Mine came with a 5/8" spacer & instructions for use 
with either. The extra spacer meant I had to replace the stock stud which 
was too short for the spacer plus starter. As someone said, for best results, 
read the directions and don't get creative. Good luck- J Deryke