Hi...

I have an early production 58 and when I bought it years ago, the generator was wrong, and it was mounted on the Drivers Side.

I have since then gotten the correct generator, "U" shape bracket, and Generator Plate.

I was putting it on the car over the weekend, and I noticed the Generator pulley isn't aligned up with the water pump and crank shaft pully...its too far forward - about an inch. I thought maybe I had my generator plate on backwards, so I took it all off and reversed the bracket and that put the generator too far back.

I noticed if I were to just bolt the "U" shape bracket directly to the exhaust manifold, it would probably be ligned up.

Any one have any thoughts on this?

 

If not sure that 58 uses it but on a 62 there is a spacer between the H balancer and crank that corrects the belt alignment. The spacer though is not an inch thick.

 

Spacer is required for all V8 powered C1 Corvettes, but it is approx. 1/8" thick. It is the same thickness as the front motor mount bracket that goes between the engine block and the water pump, and that is it's purpose (to make up for the forward shift of the water pump and pulley).

That does not appear to be the OP's problem.

I can't measure mine, since I also converted to an alternator.

Good luck,
Plasticman

 

Yea...I don't think that is my problem because the water pump and the Harmonic Balancer are aligned just fine.

Is there any chance the 58 didn't use the generator plate and the "U" bracket just bolted to the exhaust?

 

fyi.
yes you need the backing plate..and the "U" bracket..
the hydraulic lifter c-1's ( up to 245 hp) use a 6 5/8" "U" bracket with the back plate.
the solid lifter c-1's ( FI & 270 hp)use a 7 1/4'- "U" bracket..also with the back plate..

see nolan adams book vol 1 pg.247..
also paragon parts book-(c-1) pg 27 for more clarification.

i can't measure mine since i converted to an alternator.(it's about 3-4 " long mounted on the backing plate)
and my original is packed away to take to carlisle this week..
but i'm 95% sure it's a 6 5/8" for the hyd lifter motors up to and including the 245 hp.
hope this helps.
john

btw.
if you have an early-very early car, the harmonic bal pully should --could be -the one noted on pg.20 paragon cat.# 12980..and if so, then the water pump pulley would be wrong ..too..
but i 'd go with first measuring you're "U" bracket...

 

The "U" bracket fits inside of the Generator and has the same hole distance as that on the exhaust manifold...so I'm assuming its correct.

To add to the complication...I have a 327 lower block...but the original X58 heads, intake/exhaust manifolds. So, I wouldn't think there would be an issue.

I just went over to a friends house and looked at his 59...it doesn't have the plate with the 4 holes....his "U" shape bracket is mounted right to the exhaust manifold.

I would think if I had the wrong "U" shape bracket...it wouldn't fit my generator.

 

I could sent you a drawing with the difference between the two brackets.
Joe

 

Hey...I'll take anything at this point.

All pretty strange.

I would think it's the U Bracket...I mean what else can it be?? But to me doesn't make sense that it fits my generator and my exhaust. But...hey..maybe its a passenger or something.

 

This may be a generator pulley issue. How far off is the generator pulley relative to the other pulleys.

What is the distance between the back of the pulley groove and the front of the fan on the generator pulley? The pulley is supposed to be spaced out in front of the fan a 1/4 of an inch. Pulley is 3 5/8 inch in diameter.

 

I don't think its a pulley issue...as the pully is seated correctly on the generator...and as I mentioned, the whole generator is too far forward about an inch. The pully came from Paragon. If it was a pully issue, I'd be off maybe 1/4" at max.

To give you an idea (as I mentioned above)...if I mounted the "U" Bracket straight to the Exhaust manifold...I'd probably be lined right up.

 

Ok...I pulled out the generator and U-Shape Bracket and measured it. It has the same dimensions as stated in Nolands book (pg 247). 4.55" from center to center holes and 6.6" long.

So...now I'm thinking it must be the water pump and HB?? But how can that be...the water pump is the right number.

The generator is also the right number.

The mystery continues.

 

If the water pump or the HB was not sticking out far enough then that could be the problem...so I measure from the front edge of the motor mount bracket to the center of the groove in the water pump...its 7/8".

Maybe someone can tell me what the distance is from the edge of their Motor Mount Bracket to the center of the groove in their water pump, that would tell me if my water pump and HB are off.

I'm almost getting to the point of making my own generator plate and calling it a day.

Anyone know why they added the generator plate in the first place? What's its purpose? Did something change where they had to move the generator forward??

 

if the bracket is the right length, and the plate is the correct one, AND the exhaust manifold is the right one, and you're mounted it on the right side-(pass side),and you're waterpump is the right one-small blk chevy/vette -- then you're pulleys are off ...
if you're using the original type HB-about 6 1/4 "dia.. 2 step.. ( and i presume the balancer is all the way pulled in on the crank) ..then the pulley could be the thinner of the bunch..used on the late '57's and very early '58's. they are about 3/4 " closer to the engine ..
( i use a 6 3/4 " HB-x 1"wide- w/ a '57 '58E pulley, but w/ an alternator)..

as to why chevy used the backing plate, i'm not sure but i think it has something to do with the heat transferance/absorbsion.. and kept heat from away from and burning up the generator,..just my thought..
hope this helps.
john

 

Hi John....

I'm trying to understand what you are telling me...so I have some questions.

Everything you have said is correct...correct generator, "U-Shape" bracket, generator plate, exhaust manifold, Generator, water pump.

Just so that I understand you clearly...when you say my "pulleys are off"..you are referring to the water pump and HB?

I would think if my water pump was correct, and that lines right up to the HB Pulley below it, then it seems strange that they are both off....is that what you are saying?

 

OK, just to make sure I understand, this is your situation
1. Generator was mounted on the driver's side of the car.
2. You are relocating the generator to the passenger side of the car.

So, you have (or had) a driver's side exhaust manifold that allowed for mounting of the generator.

You now have a passenger side exhaust manifold that allows for mounting of the generator.

Is all of this correct?

What is the casting number of the passenger side manifold you are now using (which has the mounting boss for the generator)?

Is your passenger exhaust manifold an original GM issue or a reproduction?

Did the generator use a mounting plate when it was mounted on the driver's side of the engine or was the U bracket mounted directly to the exhaust manifold?

Does your generator have the 1/4 inch offset pulley (1/4 between the pulley groove and the pulley fan)?

Have you actually confirmed that you get correct pulley alignment when you bolt the U bracket directly to the exhaust manifold?

Can you post pictures of your various pulleys / generator / etc?

 

I have just finished mounting my generator up with the parts from Paragon (plate b/t exhaust manifold and U bracket) lines up perfect. Let me know if you need a pic. By the way mine is a 327 also.

 

Ok...let me see if I can answer your questions...

But before I do...this is what I think...only two things are possible...either the generator is sticking out to far, or the water pump pulley and HB are too close to the engine.

If someone could tell me what the distance is from the edge of their Engine Mounting Bracket to the center line of their belt (pulley) on the water pump, we can all determine what is off and go from there. The distance I have from the edge of the bracket to the centerline of the water pump pulley is 7/8".

So, to answer your questions...

The Generator use to be on the Drivers Side...however I probably shouldn't have mentioned this at all, cause at the time I had the wrong generator and exhaust manifolds on the car. I just stated this to let others know what I was doing and why.

I since then bought a set of original exhaust manifolds, and an original generator, bracket, and plate, so that I could put it on the "correct" side (Passenger Side).

The generator part number is - 1102043
The right hand exhaust manifold is - 3750556

The generator didn't have a mounting plate when it was on the Drivers side - As mentioned, it was wrong. At that time the U-Shape bracket mounted directly to the exhaust manifold...there was no plate.

The distance from the outside fins of the fan to the outside edge of the generator pulley is 1 5/8".

The distance from the outside edge of the fins to the "center-line" of the pulley is 3/8".

One thing everyone reading this has to keep in mind is that I'm over an inch off...so keep that in mind in trying to help me solve this puzzle.

As I mentioned...I think only two things can be off...either the generator or the Water Pulley and HM. Having either of these off doesn't make sense.

 

Here are a couple of pics from my 58:













Nate

 

I appreciate everyone wanting to send me pictures, but they aren't going to tell me what is off. I know what things should look like...but thanks anyway!

 

Since you have your engine out like this..maybe you can tell me what the distance is from the edge of the motor mount bracket to the center line of the groove in the water pump pulley.