Anyone running a factory alt. bracket on vortec heads?

[gonnuts]

I am trying to put the alt. back on the drivers side, the bracket fits on fine but it's right at the end of the adjustment and the alt. is right against the valve cover. I did some searching on here and found out that bracket won't work with tall valve covers. I never really considered my valve covers tall but i guess they are a little taller & more square than factory. Are the holes in vortec heads maybe in a different place on head than original heads, or are these brackets that tight of fit? Maybe my alt. is bigger than most?? If someone else has this setup, what are you running for valve covers?
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[Lee H]

How about a longer adjustment bracket?
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[gonnuts]

Ya that's what I'm thinking I'll have to find. No idea what off, just have to take mine and find one a couple inches longer.
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[Vintage Windmills]

I'm running the stock covers on mine but my vortec improved heads were drilled for both center and perimeter bolts. Haven't mounted the alternator yet but I'm assuming/hoping the holes are the same and that there won't be any issues. Worst thing for me is custom fitting (welding and reshaping) the intake manifold to work with taller port vortec and look stock.

[gonnuts]

Originally Posted by Vintage Windmills

I'm running the stock covers on mine but my vortec improved heads were drilled for both center and perimeter bolts. Haven't mounted the alternator yet but I'm assuming/hoping the holes are the same and that there won't be any issues. Worst thing for me is custom fitting (welding and reshaping) the intake manifold to work with taller port vortec and look stock.

I thought my holes looked right but if you look at the picture even if the valve cover was an inch shorter I still wouldn't have much adjustment. Like posted earlier, I think i need to find a longer adjustment arm.
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[FirstOwner69]

Mine fits OK, just a little close. Here are the best pictures I have on file. The 1st is on my GMPP crate engine with the chrome valve covers. The 2nd picture is of the 2 syles on covers I have that work. The one with the bowtie is the one in pic #1. The other is of one of the aluminum covers I now have on. Both appear to be lower than your valve cover.

[Hawssie]

You might be able to re-clock the alternator, Its hard for me to tell from the picture but sometimes you can unbolt the alt bolts and rotate the front half assembly to rear half assembly and get more clearance that way. It will put your plugs in a different location though. Maybe a CS 130 Alt might fit better, its smaller and more powerful. Thats what I am using.

[buttrock slp ss]

idk if its even a option or if your going with a more original look but tossing the alternator to the other side with the later style bracket that bolts to the intake and water pump i have never have any issues when i do that. but thats assuming your not running ac or like i said going for a more period correct look.

[Tx Firefighter]

Late 70s Corvette upper adjusting arm is what you need. It's longer than the stock truck one but interchanges. I bought mine at the GM dealer for under 20 bucks.

Yes, Vettes used short water pump setups many years later than other vehicles.

[gonnuts]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

Mine fits OK, just a little close. Here are the best pictures I have on file. The 1st is on my GMPP crate engine with the chrome valve covers. The 2nd picture is of the 2 syles on covers I have that work. The one with the bowtie is the one in pic #1. The other is of one of the aluminum covers I now have on. Both appear to be lower than your valve cover.

Yep I guess mine are taller, I kinda like mine & don't really want to replace them. I'll look into some of these other options first but if I have to I have to.

Originally Posted by Hawssie

You might be able to re-clock the alternator, Its hard for me to tell from the picture but sometimes you can unbolt the alt bolts and rotate the front half assembly to rear half assembly and get more clearance that way. It will put your plugs in a different location though. Maybe a CS 130 Alt might fit better, its smaller and more powerful. Thats what I am using.

I've never heard of that, I'll look.

Originally Posted by buttrock slp ss

idk if its even a option or if your going with a more original look but tossing the alternator to the other side with the later style bracket that bolts to the intake and water pump i have never have any issues when i do that. but thats assuming your not running ac or like i said going for a more period correct look.

I plan on running a/c someday, also going for stock look.

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

Late 70s Corvette upper adjusting arm is what you need. It's longer than the stock truck one but interchanges. I bought mine at the GM dealer for under 20 bucks.

Yes, Vettes used short water pump setups many years later than other vehicles.

I will check into this for sure, sounds like my best option.

Thanks for all the advice, hopefully I'll get it figured out without changing covers.
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[Tx Firefighter]

I went and nabbed a picture from a corvette forum for you.
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[gonnuts]

Checked with GM today, it's discontinued. I'll have to ask at the local Corvette club and see what I can find out. I'll do a little research on the computer tonight as well.
The vette one looks a little different, it's straight and looks like it mounts to water pump. The truck ones bolt on top of the bracket and are bent I believe.
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[gonnuts]

Just found this picture on here, that bracket is way longer than mine. Do I have the wrong bracket? The valve covers also look as tall as mine.
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[gonnuts]

Here's another pic of mine, not sure if it's any better.
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[Tx Firefighter]

Ecklers Corvette has repros for 24 dollars....you can easily put a little tweak into it and mount it to the lower alternator bracket instead of the water pump. Look at the pictures, they are longer than the truck ones. When I used one, I didn't even realize they were intended to mount to the pump on Vettes. I just mounted it like a truck bracket because I didnt know any better. Doing it that way, I ran real tall valve covers and has plenty of adjustment room on the alternator bracket slot.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1977-1983.html
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[gonnuts]

Problem solved, 72 alt. brackets are longer.
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