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Just installed a new 383 crate motor......the valve covers are just a tad too tall for the stock alternator bracket on a '79 Corvette.....the stock valve covers are not an option.....the roller rockers and related support pieces won't fit under them.
I'm looking for solutions to a problem I'm sure others have faced.
It's a dyno proven 455HP small block.......and it can't get their without them.....so yes it's running headers.
I like the look of this bracket but don't see pricing and I do wonder if a header mount will work with my power steering pump just bellow the alternator.....a lot of aftermarket brackets will move the alternator away from the valve cover yet make a new problem with belt angles that interfere with the power steering pump bellow.
What I'm looking for here in the forum is a proven system that someone is actually running on a later model C3 successfully.
Is one running this on a late 1970s corvette with power steering?
When I first switched to tall valve covers I was runnning the stock Alt bracket. I had to removed the covers, install the alt and then put the tall covers back on. It was a pain but it worked
Terry.....thanks for the picture......I believe that may be the bracket we ordered on Monday.......glad to see it works. MY husband sent off for it because it looked like it might work......the description suggested it won't work with over-sized
valve covers yet the picture suggested it will work with the modestly taller covers on this engine......looks like you may have the same motor I just bought for my car.
It's the Blueprint 383 with a roller cam. It'd be nice to get it fired up ..... the 456HP promised on the dyno sheet that came with it suggests I may get more go out of this than the promised 430HP......either way it should be better than the 355 HP ZZ4 it's replacing.
He put in for me this past weekend but until we sort out this alternator issue we are stopped.
It's a dyno proven 455HP small block.......and it can't get their without them.....so yes it's running headers.
I like the look of this bracket but don't see pricing and I do wonder if a header mount will work with my power steering pump just bellow the alternator.....a lot of aftermarket brackets will move the alternator away from the valve cover yet make a new problem with belt angles that interfere with the power steering pump bellow.
What I'm looking for here in the forum is a proven system that someone is actually running on a later model C3 successfully.
Is one running this on a late 1970s corvette with power steering?
I really couldn't tell you on the power steering pump issue and would also be interested if anyone is doing this. If you are in Orange County, CA we can give it a try.
The Header Power Brackets are cut for an oversized 1-5/8" header and a fatter pipe would require a bit of grinding. In this case, you are better of with the extended bracket, because you would only need to grind a bit from a "quarter circle." If you use the regular mount, you would need to grind this all the way around the inner perimeter to slip it over the pipe.
Also, if your headers are rectangular or have oversized welds around the pipe exteriors, well...
Is one running this on a late 1970s corvette with power steering?
Actually, looking at the logistics of the mount, I don't see any reason that the power steering pump would not work with a Header Power Bracket.
Look at these pictures.
Stock, the F-bracket" that holds the bottom of the alternator would mount to the outside of the exhaust manifold and its centerline would be about the height of the top of the manifold, which is about the same place as the Header Power Bracket with spacer puts it. The Header Power Bracket may even be a bit higher than the manifold mount allowing more space.
I installed this same Summit bracket on mine, but had to cut and lengthen the tension bar on the top as there was not enough adjustment to get my belt tight. My valve covers are tall, but fabricated aluminum, so wider than yours. My starting point when installing a belt had the alt swung out further. Otherwise, nice bracket. The belt does run between the PS pump tank and pulley, so no interference there.
Last edited by JoeMinnesota; 10-05-2017 at 05:52 PM.
Plenty of room and no interference with the power steering bellow......the only modification required was a few extra washers between a too small spacer and the mounting to the head......this may not required with stock iron head or heads from another aftermarket maker of Aluminum heads.....but in my case this gets it done until I can pick up a spacer just a bit wider than the one that came with the mount. Overall though......it's a big win. Get's the job done, looks better and adjusts more easily than the stock bracket.
For those who have used the Summit SME-2001 bracket, are you using the 5.625" "short" water pump, or the 5.795" 1971-82 "Corvette" water pump?
I'm working on a '72 with the Vette pump, and this bracket does NOT provide proper belt alignment. The length difference is 0.170" between the two pumps, and appears to be what is needed to correct the alignment. Looking at making a spacer, 1/8" stock is 0.125", so ~0.045" too small. 3/16" is ~0.188", so 0.018" more than "perfect", but darned close.
If you have the Vette water pump, did you use the mount as delivered, or did you use spacers? Any issues or suggestions?
EDIT: I found 4 wide washers, stacked in pair they measured ~ 0.174". Installed them between the Summit bracket and the head, still had plenty of thread engagement with the supplied bolts. Belt now aligns very nicely. I'll post a photo later.
10-03-2017, 10:21 AM
Alternator bracket help needed.
If you are in Orange County, CA we can give it a try. 
