72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

lintcollector · 12-24-2021, 01:05 PM

I've been replacing the battery annually on my truck and the warranty finally ran out on the battery, so I'm replacing the alternator and voltage regulator.

I've got the 402 CBB and both the alternator and power steering are on the driver's side.

The lower alternator bolt runs into the PS wheel.

Is there an easy way aroundv this engineering marvel, or do I need to remove the PS wheel, remove more than the top alternator bracket, or remove the PS out of the way and leave the wheel alone?

Any help greatly appreciated.

geezer#99 · 12-24-2021, 01:45 PM

Maybe a pic would help.

**kwmech** · 12-24-2021, 01:47 PM

I'd say you've got the wrong bracket(s), too long a bolt or the wrong ps pulley. The lower bolt on my truck comes close to the alt belt, but nowhere near the ps pulley

lintcollector · 12-24-2021, 03:02 PM

Two pics from driver's side
One pic down from the front

garyd1961 · 12-24-2021, 03:35 PM

Just wondering, did you test the alternator before replacing it. If the alternator wasn't working you would be replacing the battery more often than annually.
Sorry don't really have an answer for you on the bolt other than sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

geezer#99 · 12-24-2021, 03:44 PM

Looks like an oversize pulley.

**kwmech** · 12-24-2021, 04:21 PM

Seriously?? Unbolt the bracket and remove the bolt, then shove it in from the other direction. Mine comes in from the back with the nut in the front

**Steeveedee** · 12-24-2021, 04:28 PM

Remove the PS pump from the bracket and you can get the bolt out. When you put the alternator back on, insert the bolt from the back. The nut is on the front on mine. Don't know if that's factory or not, but the bolt doesn't appear to be able to clear the pulley on my truck, either. BBC 402.

**jocko** · 12-24-2021, 07:03 PM

just curious..
- why did you replace the battery annually until the warranty ran out - was the battery going bad like clockwork every year?
- when the battery warranty ran out, why did that prompt you to replace the alternator and voltage regulator - was there some indication they weren't working?

**Accelo** · 12-25-2021, 02:26 AM

I had similar issues with battery life till I started using a battery maintainer.
Night and day on how long the battery maintained a charge.
Maybe you are using one already?
If so ignore this posting as it is likely something else.

12-24-2021, 01:05 PM	#1
lintcollector Registered User Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: West Jordan, UT Posts: 71	72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS I've been replacing the battery annually on my truck and the warranty finally ran out on the battery, so I'm replacing the alternator and voltage regulator. I've got the 402 CBB and both the alternator and power steering are on the driver's side. The lower alternator bolt runs into the PS wheel. Is there an easy way aroundv this engineering marvel, or do I need to remove the PS wheel, remove more than the top alternator bracket, or remove the PS out of the way and leave the wheel alone? Any help greatly appreciated. __________________ Thx, Lintcollector '72 C10 Fleetside Big Block See my build thread here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=771552

12-24-2021, 01:45 PM	#2
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,731	Re: 72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS Maybe a pic would help.

12-24-2021, 01:47 PM	#3
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,631	Re: 72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS I'd say you've got the wrong bracket(s), too long a bolt or the wrong ps pulley. The lower bolt on my truck comes close to the alt belt, but nowhere near the ps pulley

12-24-2021, 03:02 PM	#4
lintcollector Registered User Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: West Jordan, UT Posts: 71	Re: 72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS Two pics from driver's side One pic down from the front Attached Images __________________ Thx, Lintcollector '72 C10 Fleetside Big Block See my build thread here: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=771552

12-24-2021, 03:35 PM	#5
garyd1961 Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Henderson NC Posts: 975	Re: 72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS Just wondering, did you test the alternator before replacing it. If the alternator wasn't working you would be replacing the battery more often than annually. Sorry don't really have an answer for you on the bolt other than sometimes you just have to do what you have to do.

12-24-2021, 03:44 PM	#6
geezer#99 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Bowser Posts: 13,731	Re: 72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS Looks like an oversize pulley.

12-24-2021, 04:21 PM	#7
kwmech Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colfax-California Posts: 8,631	Re: 72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS Seriously?? Unbolt the bracket and remove the bolt, then shove it in from the other direction. Mine comes in from the back with the nut in the front

12-24-2021, 04:28 PM	#8
Steeveedee Who Changed This? Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Simi Valley, CA Posts: 10,678	Re: 72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS Remove the PS pump from the bracket and you can get the bolt out. When you put the alternator back on, insert the bolt from the back. The nut is on the front on mine. Don't know if that's factory or not, but the bolt doesn't appear to be able to clear the pulley on my truck, either. BBC 402. __________________ ~Steven '70 Chevy 3/4T Longhorn CST 402/400/3.56 Custom Camper Simi Valley, CA

12-24-2021, 07:03 PM	#9
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,975	Re: 72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS just curious.. - why did you replace the battery annually until the warranty ran out - was the battery going bad like clockwork every year? - when the battery warranty ran out, why did that prompt you to replace the alternator and voltage regulator - was there some indication they weren't working?

12-25-2021, 02:26 AM	#10
Accelo Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: washington Posts: 2,295	Re: 72 C10 CBB Alternator bolt stopped by PS I had similar issues with battery life till I started using a battery maintainer. Night and day on how long the battery maintained a charge. Maybe you are using one already? If so ignore this posting as it is likely something else.



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