Alternator position question.
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,841
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Alternator position question.
Just curious about an item. The alternator in my '69 (bb) is on the left side. Which side is the alternator on with sb applications? Given the natural left weight bias of these cars, and the PITA of trying to fill/adjust the p/s pump, I'm contemplating putting the alternator on the right side. It would be nice to use an alternator (right side) harness to hook things up if possible. Are there applications with right side alternators?
thanks,
Mike
thanks,
Mike
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Most of that era were, sb and bb, other than Corvette, including the C series trucks. Carefull of the pulley lineup.
If you need some front/back measurements let me know.
http://www.firewheelclassics.com/ima...ry/tamike2.jpg
If you need some front/back measurements let me know.
http://www.firewheelclassics.com/ima...ry/tamike2.jpg
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
[QUOTE=69427;15745606 the PITA of trying to fill/adjust the p/s pump,
[/QUOTE]
Mike,
Rather than do this, why not consider putting the alternator BELOW the pump, i.e. swapping positions. As you know, we should do a weekly check on our oil, water, PS fluid, auto trans fluid, but we never have to check our alternator. Why? Well, what is there to check? As soon as you start the engine, the gauge will tell you if it's working or not.
I don't know why GM put the pump on the bottom, and I have often considered putting the pump on top. Now, if only there was a bracket or two that's readily available to do this.......... Anyone???
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
[/QUOTE]
Mike,
Rather than do this, why not consider putting the alternator BELOW the pump, i.e. swapping positions. As you know, we should do a weekly check on our oil, water, PS fluid, auto trans fluid, but we never have to check our alternator. Why? Well, what is there to check? As soon as you start the engine, the gauge will tell you if it's working or not.
I don't know why GM put the pump on the bottom, and I have often considered putting the pump on top. Now, if only there was a bracket or two that's readily available to do this.......... Anyone???
Regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 53
From: Dayton, Ohio
Mike I can't think of any right side applications that would be less work to adapt than the 2 wires you would have to move to the right side of the engine.
12 red from starter and a small brown extended from the existing brown (which is most likely a resistor wire).
12 red from starter and a small brown extended from the existing brown (which is most likely a resistor wire).
Thread Starter
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,841
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Thanks for all the help and suggestions, guys. It's greatly appreciated!
I was just going to weld up a custom bracket to mount the alternator to the right side. (Should be easy compared to all the headache I went through with the suspension conversion.
)
I was hoping to find a (reasonably long) length of alternator harness wiring to keep a moderately stock or consistent appearance of the underhood harness. Looks like I'll take a look at some other older GM models to get the harness wire and correct connector.
I've got some time to get stuff rounded up, as I'm currently pulling the engine out and the car won't be back together for several weeks.
thanks again,
Mike
I was just going to weld up a custom bracket to mount the alternator to the right side. (Should be easy compared to all the headache I went through with the suspension conversion.
)I was hoping to find a (reasonably long) length of alternator harness wiring to keep a moderately stock or consistent appearance of the underhood harness. Looks like I'll take a look at some other older GM models to get the harness wire and correct connector.
I've got some time to get stuff rounded up, as I'm currently pulling the engine out and the car won't be back together for several weeks.
thanks again,
Mike
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 20
From: The only Corvettes in Highett Victoria
That answer makes a lot of sense, thanks. As a comparison, my 1983 Holden Commodore V8, which of course is right hand drive, has the power steering pump on the left side, like the Corvette, and has the alternator on the right side, but mounted UNDER the AC compressor. Therefore the AC hoses have to go down the right side of the engine past the MC and booster, and into the firewall to the HVAC unit. It would have been neater to mount the AC on the left side, where there is less things to get in the way.
So one GM division decided to mount the alternator low and under another belt driven unit, but not one into which oil is poured. It's so easy to check the PS fluid on the Holden, that it led me to think that it might be possible to swap the positions of the alternator and PS pump on the Corvette. If only there was a bracket that I could use, I'd definitely make the swap. If none are available, I'll have to look into fabricating one.
regards from Down Under
aussiejohn
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski