1963-1965 409 Reproduction Alternator Bracket

[CDNpontiac409guy]

These are a few pictures of a reproduction alternator bracket that my customer just brouht to me.
It doesn't show up as obvious here.... but hopefully you can notice an angle/twist at the front, where the bolt would go through into the cylinder head. when just mocking this up, the top of the bracket is at a 20+ degree angle to the engine. The problem isn't so much that the metal is twisted, as that the folded over tab inside, has not been welded at the correct location.
As far as i can tell, this particular one, is an unuseable part.

Is this normal for these reproduction parts ?
If it is.... I'll manufacture my own.
If it isn't... I'll ask my customer to try and get a suitable replacement.

 

[yellow wagon]

Pretty common with repop parts! Ill fitting, poor materials, bad welds, the list goes on and on. Its really just a crap shoot when it comes to buying repop parts such as this. There might be 20 on the shelf at the parts house, 12 are good and usable and the rest are bad. You just never know what you are going to get!

 

[TIREDIRN]

I have the same part, same problem. Mine is from Showcars.

Gary

 

[oldskydog]

I have several TSB 's addressing Delcotron alternator bracket problems and fixes in 62/63 as well as one on the idler pulley.

 

[CDNpontiac409guy]

Cecil, I've had a few originals... always good.
I made my own about 15 years go. They were good.
This is the first time I've attempted to use a commercially available product.
HHHMMM...
Maybe Show Cars should have copied my alternator bracket as well ?

 

[CDNpontiac409guy]

Oh, While I'm here...
How 'bout this f#&%ed up water pump pulley:







This one REALLY has me PO'd
Look at the grooves for the belt on the new pulley.
How the hell is a belt supposed to survive in there ??????????

this is freaking junk

 

[oldskydog]

I take it the shallow groove is a repo Otherwise looks like the typical diff between a low perf pulley and a deep groove Hi perf pulley unless I'm missing something...maybe the shape of the goove on the repo?

 

[CDNpontiac409guy]

maybe the shape of the goove on the repo?

EXACTLY, Cecil... the angle of the EXTREMELY shallow seat for the belt... is just completely incompetently designed ( that's as polite as I can be

 

[1958 delivery]

I ordered once from them about 5 years ago, every thing I got was crap. 3x2 linkage was cheap, hokey junk. 2 bbl rebuild kits missing correct gaskets, 3x2 fuel line kit had back ordered parts, no good to me incomplete. Wasnt told when ordering they were missing parts. My solution was to never ever order from them again and I haven't and never will.

 

[PAINTJOHN1]

My original alternator bracket for my 64' was misplaced,so I ordered a reproduction thinking it would be ok.Once I got it,I couldn't believe the front bolt alignment was not untainable.It was not even close.AS opposed to sending it back,I welded an extension on,also had to straight the part out.When that was done,I had no problems at all,perfect alignment.Found the original one when the project was complete,then did the swap.

 

[TIREDIRN]

Where else can you order these kind of parts besides Showcars!
Gary

 

[Phil Reed]

You can't. No one else makes them that I know of.

 

[LMBRJQ 60]

You can't. No one else makes them that I know of.

Now Phil, there seems to be a gap in the market for good quality reproduction parts??????

Steve

 

[Hobart]

I just noticed this bracket from LGC, for a paltry $280 bucks! http://www.lategreatchevy.com/full-size-chevy-alternator-bracket-kit-348-and-409ci-1958-1964.html

 

[tripower]

I just noticed this bracket from LGC, for a paltry $280 bucks! http://www.lategreatchevy.com/full-size-chevy-alternator-bracket-kit-348-and-409ci-1958-1964.html

Or you could go to your local wrecking yard and get the bracket that was commonly used on 67-72 Chevy pickups. I bought two for 4.00 each then cut and welded to fit the attachment holes, its cast steel, and used one of Dave Smiths, Petepedler's, repo upper bracket that I did some trading to Dave for the lower brackets so he could do the same thing.

 

[yellow wagon]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chrome-BIG-...ccessories&hash=item3f214bcdca&vxp=mtr&_uhb=1

I bought and used this cheap chrome alternator bracket which has been working great on my 409. Cut the tab off the back, locate and redrill one hole. Then I cut off the lower mounting hole and shaped that end on the bench grinder. Hit it with some satin black paint and nobody gives it a second look. Sounds more complicated than it is to modify and requires no welding. Use the upper hockey stick to finish the mounting

Here is a pic boxerdog posted awhile back of the same modified bracket.

http://www.348-409.com/forum/index.php?attachments/061-jpg.15923/

 

[Hobart]

I was going to build my own, but I just bought one like tripower used above, for $20 off eBay. FYI, the GM part number on it is 3951337. Nice tip!

 

[bjburnout]

Anybody run one of these..........
Any comments.......

http://www.show-cars.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=7859


bj

 

[Hobart]

I haven't, but it's an Alan Grove, if you need more info, such as dimensions, here's a link: http://www.alangrovecomponents.com/348_409_Chevy.htm

I do have their 126R A/C bracket, and it seems like a pretty nicely built piece.

 

[entourageguy]

I think tirediron has one on his car. Gary?