How They Make It: Spyke Stealth StarterMost car guys have probably never heard of Spyke, but over the last 11 years, the company has made a name for itself making high-end electrical, ignition, frontend, fuel, and drivetrain components for Harley and Indian motorcycles. Big bikes are tough to start, requiring miniaturized yet beefy parts in a lightweight package. Now Spyke has taken what it learned on Harleys and introduced a full line of starters for domestic American V-8s. Spyke's good-looking, aluminum Stealth starters are available in a variety of candy colors (or polished), but more importantly, inside is a bulletproof planetary drive that, says Spyke owner Bill McCahill, "cannot fail." A stronger drive means the starter has higher torque capacity for turning over the most cranky engines. The solenoid is fully encapsulated within the starter housing for debris and heat protection. There's an ample air gap around the components to ensure optimum cooling.
Spyke sells direct and through several distributors, including Summit and Hank The Crank (HTC Inc.), who's the master distributor for an even beefier version made specifically for NASCAR Nextel Cup and other high-end racing venues as well as other extreme-performance automotive applications. -Marlan Davis