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04-22-2008, 05:43 PM | #1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 50
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Alternator bracket bots broke off!
350 short block
I was driving to work this past friday, and i noticed that my temperature started to go up. I got off my truck and popped the hood to find the whole alternator/alternator bracket completely loose. All the bolts broke off! It seems that the bracket has three bolts holding the alternator in place. Two of the bolts bolt up to the block, and the other one bolts up somewhere else. Is this right? It seems to fragile to handle the torque from the engine, I dont know what could have happened. I had the engine rebuilt about 400 miles ago. Has anyone ever had this problem? I dont know if the shop installed it correctly, does anyone have pics of how the bracket goes? Any help or suggestion is appreciated. Also how would I remove the remaining bolts that stayed in the block? Is there a tool that can help me remove them? Thanks |
04-22-2008, 05:58 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: everett washington
Posts: 45
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Re: Alternator bracket bots broke off!
If there is anything left of the bolt sticking out past that block you could possibly weld on another bolt to the broken one and try turning it out like normal. Drillin it is always and option and the rethreading it. an E-Z out is an optioin too but i've never had much luck with them.
Last edited by erikrcks; 04-22-2008 at 05:58 PM. |
04-22-2008, 06:47 PM | #3 |
Chasin' the Dream
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Lost in the 70's
Posts: 200
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Re: Alternator bracket bots broke off!
Here's a few of my set-up. I think it was on the other side at one time, but I'm not sure. There are some wires on the other side of the engine that I think went to an Alt.
I've found that sometimes broken bolts can be screwed out using fingers,pliers,screw drivers, etc. because after the tension is released they just aren't tight, unless they were stripped or something. Hope these help. Sorry for the POS camera. Jerry
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Born with a Bowtie 1971 C/10 350/350 Daily Driver/project Assumption=The mother of all -ups |
04-22-2008, 06:57 PM | #4 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Houston TX
Posts: 50
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Re: Alternator bracket bots broke off!
Quote:
Anyone else have any other suggestions. thanks |
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04-22-2008, 07:32 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Estherville, Iowa
Posts: 3,371
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Re: Alternator bracket bots broke off!
When you get them out, use a grade 5 (3 line) or better bolt. Maybe they were just soft grade 2 bolts that might have gotten over tightened ? Or just get some grade 8 bolts for a few cents more for extra insurance.
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1968 C10 307 3spd Long Fleet ------ http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=201103 1970 C10 305 Super T10 Long Fleet --- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=202285 1971 C20 383 TH350 Dana Posi ----- http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=206894 2001 GMC Sierra 1500 C3 6.0 |
04-22-2008, 08:10 PM | #6 |
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Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Center City, MN, USA
Posts: 3,254
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Re: Alternator bracket bots broke off!
Highsteel is correct in that you don't bottom out those bolts so you SHOULD be able to get them out easily. I usually use a flat blade screw driver and a hammer. Catch a burr of the broken bolt and tap it around until you get enough to grab with your fingers or a vise grips.
I had these exact same issues on my truck. What finally solved it was switching to a factory original water pump pully that matches the factory original crank pulley. What was happening in my case - and probably in yours too - is that the pulley mismatch causes WILD vibrations at some rpms. In other words if you are on fast idle or slow idle, hood up you won't see the alternator bracket shake. But when you buzz it up to a certain rpm, the alternator looks like Elvis gyrating on stage. Before the correct pulley I tried grade 5 bolts. Sheared them off. Then I tried grade 8 bolts. Yup. Those broke too. I tried various thicknesses of washers between the alternator bracket and the head and still managed to sheer them off. da-burb sold me a waterpump pulley off of a truck that still had it's GM-given configuration and all my problems went away.
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'70 cab, '71 chassis, 383, TH350, NP205. '71 Malibu convertible '72 Malibu hard top Center City, MN |
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