Turbotrad

I am having the toughest time adjusting my alternator on my '69.



Sorry it's not the best picture.

I have the curved upper bracket and a two-piece hinged lower bracket.

The lower bracket anchors to the first two header bolts. The hinged portion can adjust forward and backward along the length of the bolt holes drilled in the anchored portion.


Is this a factory set up for a '69?

It seems incredibly difficult to get "just right" and I have a feeling the lower bracket was bent by the previous owner.

I guess I would like a more trouble free alternator bracket, or be able to figure out how to make this one not be such a PITA.


Know what I mean?

Turbotrad

Oh that picture was when I first got the car nearly 2 years ago. Yes...I did re-install the upper radiator hose correctly so it wasn't rubbing the bracket.

Turbotrad

Ah just figured out a little bit more.

The lower brackets are part of a set designed to work with Hedman headers.

The previous owner had the headers put on and obviously that bracket.

73StreetRace

I don't know what the factory setup was in 69, but on my 73 the upper bracket is just like yours and attached to the waterpump upper bolt.
But on my car, the lower bracket is made of cast iron, so it cannot be bent. If yours is made of steel, it's probably not the original one.
Maybe the bracket was broken and the previous owner made one instead of buying a new part...

Here's a picture showing the lower bracket ( even if it's a CS130 alternator, it is the GM original U-bracket ) :

Garys 68

68 and 69s had the alternator mounted off a boss on the exhaust manifold. With the headers someone added a generic aftermarket mount. They bend easily but genersally work.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SUM-G4051/
If your drivers side head has the 2 holes in the top corners, you can use an iron bracket like 73 shows. Or there are other aftermarket mounts for short water pump
The upper adjusting arm you've got should be fine.

carriljc

you can look casting numbers on ebay and find these things. also, late 60's to early 70's chevy pickups used a short water pump with similar bracket.

3951337

Turbotrad

Thanks guys.

I might just look in to getting that iron bracket.

I definitely think the portion of the steel bracket I have that grabs the alternator and allows it to pivot is bent.

When I connect it, and bring the alternator up into position on the upper bracket it doesn't line up meaning the casing of the alternator is not parallel to the flat edge of the upper bracket.

Turbotrad

Quick question though. Just thought of this.

Will that cast iron bracket be able to give me the correct pulley alignment needed for a short water pump?

Garys 68

The corvette bracket is made for a short water pump. But you'll need to make sure the head has the 2 top bolt holes. OEM 68s did not.

toddalin

My header bracket (similar to yours) is a POS (probably like all the others). It is made of 3/16" steel that was "stamped" to make the bends. Unforetunately, when the engine torques and pulls on the belt, it straighens out these bends like an accordion. I've gone to great lengths to solve this problem and these solutions work, but there is still some flex.

Turbotrad

Thanks for the suggestions and help guys.

I noticed this problem because I removed my belts to inspect my failing water pump which I am replacing today. I'll check to see if my passenger side head has the needed holes.

That iron bracket seems like a much more solid solution for stability and alignment than what I currently have.

Another quick question. My new water pump shaft doesn't turn as freely as the old one. Is this normal, are the seals just tight or should I be concerned?

-Brad

dstaley

It's normal for new water pump seals to be a little tight.

C3's, at least mid- to late- 70's Corvettes for certain, did not use the standard "short" water pump that 60's SBC's did. I found this out the hard way.

Corvette water pumps are a little longer overall (pulley flange to block surface) and have room for a deeper pulley than the generic "short" pump. I machined some spacers to put the pulley where it needed to be but then found that I needed more clearance for the pulley (it then rubbed the pump) than I could get by just grinding a few spots on the water pump.

GM Performance, Edelbrock, and Weiand make aluminum versions of the correct pump for C3's. Generic "short" water pumps just won't work.

I ended up buying the GM pump and it worked fine with my stock '76 pulleys and iron alternator bracket. My upper bracket looks just like yours.

Solid LT1

Factory cast iron bracket holds my belts and tension to 7500RPM upshifts on my 72 LT-1 GM did this part RIGHT. This is what you should be searching for to eliminate problems on your Vette.