The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network







Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Go Back   The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network > 47 - Current classic GM Trucks > The 1947 - 1959 Chevrolet & GMC Pickups Message Board

Web 67-72chevytrucks.com


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-12-2013, 04:29 PM   #1
AZ59apacheguy
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: South West
Posts: 431
Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

Hi. I'm trying to figure out my alternator bracket situation and have some questions. I bought two upper alternator brackets that were said to be for Chevy Small Blocks. I have a Factory Assembly Manual and set it up the way they did in the manual, but with that setup it doesn't leave me with much adjustment ( see 1st and 2nd pics ). I brainstormed for a while and came up with flipping the bracket upside down which gives me tons of adjustment ( 3rd-5th pics ). Everything seems to line up, and looks fine to me. Is it ok to have my alternator setup this way??





AZ59apacheguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2013, 04:36 PM   #2
NW Task Force
Registered User
 
NW Task Force's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Poulsbo, WA USA
Posts: 247
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

I had to ,mess around with my 283 driver's side alternator bracket setup to get it right finally. Mine was a little tougher to manage because I am running headers. I would imagine your 4th &5th pic setup will work as long as clearance and belt alignment allows. Check out my "pics of 60's smallblocks" thread to see my setup if it helps you.
__________________
1957 Chevy Pickup 1/2T, stepside, big window, 77' Camaro subframe, 3rd gen Firebird rearend w/3.23 gears & disc brakes, 66' 283cid, TH350 auto, everything else is original
NW Task Force is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2013, 06:23 PM   #3
OrrieG
Registered User
 
OrrieG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Idaho
Posts: 8,800
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

Only problem I can see is that the belt rotation might move the alternator overtime towards the engine loosening the belt. In your pic 1 the rotation would move the alternator away from the engine keeping the belt tight. If everything is tight and stays tight no problem. I once set up an air conditioner compressor and bracket on the passenger side with the weight of the compressor rotating down and could never keep it tight enough to maintain belt tightness. I had your problem so I made my own from two to avoid the conflict with the alternator fan. I also wanted to place the alternator out further to the side away from the valve cover.
Attached Images
  
__________________
1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread
1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver)
Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project
OrrieG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2013, 06:30 PM   #4
hyatt
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: sparta tennessee
Posts: 345
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

move your upper strap fm waterpump to intake bolt hole and you should have plenty of adjustment
__________________
1946 car hauler
1948 surburban
1937 chevy sedan
1940 olds sedan (project)
1967 ss396 chevelle
1999 dually crewcab(24000 miles)
hyatt is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2013, 07:00 PM   #5
mr48chev
Registered User
 
mr48chev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,708
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

It should go as OrrieG showed in post #3. With your shorter valve covers you should be able to roll the alternator in so you can put a bit shorter belt on it so your adjustment bolt sits in the middle of the slot or towards "inside end" of the slot allowing for more adjustment if the belt stretches a bit.
__________________
Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club.

My ongoing truck projects:
48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six.
71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant.
77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.
mr48chev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2013, 07:54 PM   #6
_Ogre
Registered User
 
_Ogre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Motown
Posts: 7,680
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

these trucks have a lot of room under the hood but i think you'll run into interference with the inner fender.
wouldn't it be easier to get the right size belt?
we ran them that way for 50 years

__________________
cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build

how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature
shop air compressor timer
_Ogre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-12-2013, 09:01 PM   #7
mr48chev
Registered User
 
mr48chev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,708
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

I was suggesting that he set it up exactly like the one you show in the yellow truck OrrieG. That gives plenty of room for future adjustment if needed. That is a lot stronger bracket on that engine too. The flat ones tend to flex a bit.

One more thing that should go without saying but needs to be mentioned. Buy the best belt you can find and don't go with the cheapies.
__________________
Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club.

My ongoing truck projects:
48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six.
71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant.
77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.
mr48chev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2013, 03:15 AM   #8
AZ59apacheguy
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: South West
Posts: 431
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

I like all your suggestions. Orrieg, your upper bracket looks longer than mine. Hyatt, I tried mounting it to the intake bolt and it was the yielded the same results. I would like to keep this as stock looking as possible. The bracket in Orges post, is that a correct upper bracket for a '59, it looks like a later style, please excuse my ignorance. Thanks for all the help
AZ59apacheguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2013, 12:50 PM   #9
_Ogre
Registered User
 
_Ogre's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Motown
Posts: 7,680
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

nothing is period correct on truk
i made all my accessory drive brackets to match the pulleys and parts i had in stock
it was a reference picture for how much room you will have as the inner fenders taper down
my alt bracket is in the same spot, just needed to get the right belt
__________________
cool, an ogre smiley Ogre's 58 Truk build

how to put your truck year and build thread into your signature
shop air compressor timer
_Ogre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2013, 01:05 PM   #10
Rude Dude
Registered User
 
Rude Dude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Glendale Arizona
Posts: 1,188
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

Remember the truck came with a generator not a alternator so you should look for a top alternator arm.

Quote:
Originally Posted by AZ59apacheguy View Post
I like all your suggestions. Orrieg, your upper bracket looks longer than mine. Hyatt, I tried mounting it to the intake bolt and it was the yielded the same results. I would like to keep this as stock looking as possible. The bracket in Orges post, is that a correct upper bracket for a '59, it looks like a later style, please excuse my ignorance. Thanks for all the help
Rude Dude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2013, 04:12 PM   #11
OrrieG
Registered User
 
OrrieG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Idaho
Posts: 8,800
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

Quote:
Originally Posted by AZ59apacheguy View Post
I like all your suggestions. Orrieg, your upper bracket looks longer than mine.
I made mine out of two brackets to get the extra length. Some one questioned hitting the inner fender, I had mine in place and as shown the alternator is about 1.5" off the inner fender.
__________________
1959 Chevy Short Fleetside w/ 74 4WD drive train (current project) OrrieG Build Thread
1964 Chevelle Malibu w/ 355-350TH (daily driver)
Helpful AD and TF Manual Site Old Car Manual Project
OrrieG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-13-2013, 11:17 PM   #12
1project2many
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lakes Region NH
Posts: 3,200
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

The last two posts really cover it. The generator is a smaller diameter and doesn't hit the valve cover like an alternator. I also made my own upper bracket using two brackets although it looks different from Orrie's. Because my top bracket has no curve it could hit the alternator fan if rotated too far in either direction but honestly I had to replace the belt due to age and cracks before it became stretched enough for the bracket to be an issue. IIRC at least part of the upper bracket was a six cylinder engine piece.
Attached Images
 
1project2many is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2013, 12:00 PM   #13
AZ59apacheguy
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: South West
Posts: 431
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

Actuall if you look at my first two pics, my problem is not the alterator hitting my valve covers. If you look closely at pic 2, the Alternator is hitting the alternator bracket itself. Between that and the arm not being long enough, that's what is causing my lack of adjustment issues.
AZ59apacheguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-14-2013, 01:44 PM   #14
1project2many
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lakes Region NH
Posts: 3,200
Re: Chevy 283 Alternator Bracket question

Distance from generator shaft to lower bolt hole is different and generator cover isn't as large. I looked at my lower bracket and I made some modifications there too so I'll bet that was a problem for me as well. It looks like I welded a tube on top of the existing bracket. I know the alternator hit the valve cover at one point... probably after I moved the lower pivot up.
1project2many is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:19 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright 1997-2022 67-72chevytrucks.com