Brand new battery w/1000 CCA, 0 gauge wires (pos & neg), and grounded to the body.
The current starter doesn't owe me anything, its just an AutoZone rebuild unit intended for stock compression small blocks and mild big blocks, not 10:1 compression 454's.
Plus when my Z was still small block powered, this starter wouldn't/couldn't turn over my 9:1 compression 383 when it was already 180-200 degrees. I thought the starter was getting heat soaked so I added a starter blanket and heat shield. Even then I would have to wait 30-45 mins to start it again. So it doesn't really suprise me that this starter isn't up to snuff.