Best Starter for Chevy 454: The Definite Trio

Alright, so you’ve been rebuilding a Big Block – or maybe just changing some components. And the time has come to find a starter replacement.

Let’s talk about your possible choices. You’d either go for the newly designed mini starters or stick to the older, bigger stock ones.

I prefer minis (will discuss later why). First, here’s an overview of several options for the best starter for Chevy 454:

➥➥ Overall best choice: This DB Electrical mini starter has a good warranty, outstanding heat tolerance, and fits both 454 flexplate options. Great price for the quality.

➥➥ For clocking enthusiasts: The Powermaster XS 9526 is another hi-torque mini starter that focuses on being easily clockable. Optimal for 168-tooth flywheels, it doesn’t get heat soaked and delivers great cranking power too.

➥➥ Best stock design: This ACDelco Gold is a stock-sized starter instead of a mini. Bigger and heavier, it nods back to how OE starters were decades ago. Features higher torque than Big Block stock starters for extra power.

As I pointed out earlier, mini starters for 454 Big Block have been a staple for a while. I’d say people who prefer the larger options are in a narrower niche.

Let’s see what makes minis more convenient (and preferable).

Is it only the size?

I mean, obviously, it’s convenient to take some weight off your Big Block’s shoulders. Mini starters can save you 6 to 8 lbs of weight depending on your setup.

Especially for hot rodding or general track actions, that’s quite a bit. Even on Chevy/GM trucks, it’s a considerable difference.

So yes, the gear reduction aspect of mini starters is one factor.

Another reason is heat soaking. Bigger, clumsier designs cope worse with heat levels due to their subpar mechanics. Mini starters often have extra clearance slapped to the exhaust, which dissipates heat.

Starter design is one of the things General Motors didn’t think of properly in the earlier years of their engines.

What this translates to is stock starters losing a bit of their oomph due to heat-soaking issues eventually. Mini starters tolerate being close to the headers better (if it’s a quality one!) and keep your cranking power intact.

Still, some people don’t mind the beefier design of stock starters for a 454 Big Block. Or they’re on a budget – and a stock starter is half the price of minis. ACDelco is the go-to option in this case.

Basically, the competition here boils down to DB Electrical vs Powermaster. Yes, there are other brands, but these two have the biggest user base, most detailed application options, and…well, manufacturing quality.

As I said, your choice here lies between DB Electrical SHI0032-C and the Powermaster XS 9526.

One of the crucial differences here depends on your Big Block’s flexplate/flywheel.

DB Electrical’s starter fits both the 12 ¾ inch, 153-tooth flywheels, as well as the bigger 14” 168-tooth flexplates. You’ll just need to do some light corner trimming to clear the headers if you have the 168-tooth one.

The Powermaster XS, however, is optimal for 168-tooth flywheels. If you have a smaller fitment, it might be a chore to fit it in.

In terms of overall design and mechanics, these two are similar. Both are high-torque mini starters for 454 Chevy, made to prevent heat soaking and deliver great cranking power.

The 9526 Powermaster fares a bit better in terms of clocking if you’re into that. Some people prefer to further protect their solenoid so it’s away from the headers.

The XS mounting is also designed to prevent break-off issues with the outside mounting pad on 454 Big Block engines.

Both Powermaster and DB Electrical starters come with a 1-year warranty.

If you’re into the stock design and don’t care about gear reduction, there are a few options too. I recommend you look into what ACDelco offers.

Why? Because the brand’s been a staple in GM OE parts for quite a while.

I recommend considering this ACDelco Gold 337-1016 starter. Compared to stock Chevy 454 starters or equivalent replacements, it features a higher torque. This equates to higher cranking power for your engine.

With an aluminum nose cone and thoroughly greased components, this is a durable, tough replacement.

A confusing point is the installation instructions. The topic of shimming is a divisive one, and the manual is murky on that. On some pages you’d see ACDelco telling you to shim it; other times it says you don’t need to.

I’ve heard about people making this starter work with zero shimming so I don’t think it’s an issue.

A nice perk of this starter is the price. It’s significantly cheaper than mini starter options and packs a punch for its price range.

Keep in mind that ACDelco Gold is a heavy one. You might need a helping hand when DIY installing it, compared to mini design alternatives.

Alright, so let’s clear up something I forgot to mention earlier. It’s about the fitment of your 454 Chevy engine starter.

Remember the 153-tooth or 168-tooth flywheel/flexplate thing? There’s a difference in the bolt holes on the nose cone between them too.

Basically, the 153 teeth option will have two bolt holes that are parallel to the crankshaft. The bigger 168-tooth flywheel will have them standing diagonally.

This article explains the differences with images.

In general, doing this yourself isn’t the hardest task. It isn’t as easy as changing the spark plugs on your Big Block, but it’s easier than DIYing and calibrating a 454 carburetor, for example.

While I (and the majority of Big Block owners) prefer mini starters, that doesn’t mean it’s the only way. If you’re tight on money or nostalgic for the early days of Chevy engines, a stock-designed starter will fit the bill.

If you have the money to spare, though, minis are totally worth it. Twice so if you’ll be reviving a Big Block for hot rodding purposes, instead of an old-school GM truck.

Powermaster, DB Electrical, and ACDelco are all pretty safe bets. These staple companies have proven themselves over decades of hard work for GM applications.

Keep in mind some of the 454 starters can also fit other engines like the Chevy small block varieties too.

Remember to check which flywheel design you have too.

While DB Electrical is versatile in terms of fitment, some Powermaster options are more narrowed down. And of course, if you decide to go for another option, some brands make starters only for the smaller or bigger flexplate design.

Best of luck with your cranking power after refreshing your Chevy Big Block with a new starter!