Pikeslayer

I have a '71 LS-5 w/ AC. I bought a replacement alternator for it but ground bolt on the back interferes with the valve cover. I really don't want to spend hundreds of dollars for the correct alternator. I was thinking I could find a core and just swap the rear housings.

Anyone know what other years or makes might work? Searched ebay and can't find one with the bolt hole in right location.

Any other ideas?

MelWff

why cannt you return the alternator and get the correct one?
Napa lists them new and remanufactured with either one or two groove pulley with a high of $65.

71VetteLover

It sounds like your replacement alternator wasn't "clocked" the same way your original was. Just pull it apart and rotate the rear housing 90 degrees counterclockwise.

Pikeslayer

I do have the "correct" one from Napa. It's just not correct enough. The remans aren't identical to the originals.

Pikeslayer

That's what I thought. I tried that that's not the issue.

71VetteLover

As the wires are just ground wires they can be attached somewhere else by butt connecting them to a piece of wire with a ring terminal on it. Maybe attach it to the front left outer valve cover bolt.

lionelhutz

The mounting ears are on the front cover so I don't see why you can't clock it to rotate the back cover.

At any rate, to clock it you rotate only the front case half around the stator and rear case half. NEVER try to rotate only the rear case half because you'll just damage the internal wires between the stator and the rectifier.

Pikeslayer

It has been awhile since I worked on it, so I can't recall why the reclock didn't work. I'll have to look into that this weekend.

Go Vette Go

How about getting a little longer V Belt? That will move the alternator away from the valve cover towards the fender. That is, if there is enough room to do so.

Pikeslayer

I'm already at the end of travel on the bracket.

Barry's70LT1

I assume the original, correct fitting alt is long gone. If not, you could switch the "internals" from the reman unit to the old case.

Pikeslayer

Yep. Long gone.

71VetteLover

A picture would sure help. The 10-SI alternator on my big block has the ground bolt in the 12 o'clock position and the side plugin at the 9 o'clock position.

Pikeslayer

Here is how it should be........I believe.

Pikeslayer

Appears to be bolt at 3, plug at 9.

JBrooke825

Nope,on a big block the rear housing should be clocked at 12 o'clock
The plug should be at 12 o'clock.pull the pulley,remove the 4screws,
Pull the housing slightly,I said slightly keeping the armature in the rear
Housing and turn a quarter of a turn if you pull it to far ,PM me. Not hard to do.

Go Vette Go

Exactly!

lionelhutz

Don't remove the pulley. Stand the alternator on the pulley end and push the front housing down so you can rotate it. That way, the rear housing is sitting on the armature shaft so gravity keeps those 2 parts together and the slip rings don't get pulled out of the brushes.

71VetteLover

Heck it only takes me 15 seconds to stuff the two brushes back into the brush holder then stick a toothpick thru it to retain the brushes. Big whoopee.

bazza77

settle down son , you might know these things backwards but Pikeslayer may not