alternator question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: dubuque iowa
alternator question
is there anything special about the alternator that makes them corvette specific? i'm doubting it but have been told that because of the belt routing used it may need to be specific to run turning the oppesit direction then the norm... sounds odd to me just figured i would double check .. thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Niagara Falls ON
It might depend on the year. Sometime years the alternator may be the same amperage and style used on other GM cars but may have the serpentine belt pulley for Corvette and the standard alternator belt pulley for other cars.
If you are asking the quesition because you want to put a less expensive alternator on your car make sure it really will work first otherwise you could compound your problems.
If you are asking the quesition because you want to put a less expensive alternator on your car make sure it really will work first otherwise you could compound your problems.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Anaheim CA
The pulley is different (wider belt -- the auto parts store gave me the wrong one once). I don't know of any other differences. They do tend to have higher amperage ratings than other cars.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 849
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From: dubuque iowa
It might depend on the year. Sometime years the alternator may be the same amperage and style used on other GM cars but may have the serpentine belt pulley for Corvette and the standard alternator belt pulley for other cars.
If you are asking the quesition because you want to put a less expensive alternator on your car make sure it really will work first otherwise you could compound your problems.
If you are asking the quesition because you want to put a less expensive alternator on your car make sure it really will work first otherwise you could compound your problems.
and as for other concerns of pulley i would think thats not much trouble just using the old one if needed and clock position if i remember right is very easily changed, correct?
i was more worried if they are spacially designed for a reverse rotation on the l98 tpi engines in 85 like i heard the water pump is. or is the water pump the only thing that runs backwards from other standerd sbc's ?
Le Mans Master
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From: Australia
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Le Mans Master
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you are better off buying one with the right 'clock' position, you can change the orientation of the plug and battery hookup to better fit your application, but trying to run an alternator upside down to correct the clock position works , but has a tendency to break the small ear off of the case, and if you're buying rebuilt, high output, they will ask you 'what clock position' or 'which side of the engine its to be mounted on, and the better ones will have pictures of each to insure you get the right one. It cuts down on a bunch of b.s.
Race Director
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From: Merritt Ils Fl
If you know what you are doing and have an impact wrench changing either the pulley or the clocking of an alternator is very simple, done in minutes. Not sure if this is true for newer type alternators however.
Le Mans Master
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not to flog a dead horse, but, the clocking is decided by the casting of the front plate, its not changeable unless you change front mounting plates with one with different clocking. Its simple to do if you 've changed those plates before, but you have to buy another front mounting plate to do it. There's no reason to go thru the b.s. if you buy the right alternator to start with. I just went thru this with a used 12SI for my C3 and a used CS130 for my C4
Race Director
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From: moraga ca
The alternator is not run in the reverse rotation. It is the water pump that is reversed because it is run off the back side of the belt. Just look at your engine arrangement and it should make sense. As Alaska stated, imagine replacing the serpentine belt with a v belt running off the balancer. There is no difference between what you'll have and a 70s Vette.
Le Mans Master
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Look at the pulleys. If they have ribs, they turn with the crank direction, if they are smooth, they turn the opposite direction.
Last edited by coupeguy2001; Jul 7, 2012 at 09:03 PM.
Race Director
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From: Merritt Ils Fl
not to flog a dead horse, but, the clocking is decided by the casting of the front plate, its not changeable unless you change front mounting plates with one with different clocking. Its simple to do if you 've changed those plates before, but you have to buy another front mounting plate to do it. There's no reason to go thru the b.s. if you buy the right alternator to start with. I just went thru this with a used 12SI for my C3 and a used CS130 for my C4
Le Mans Master
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I think you are describing rotating the rear housing to make the plugs and charge hookup easier to get to with the car wires, and you are correct with that,
I'm describing makeing sure the mounting points on the alternator fit the brackets, give me a minute and I'll find a picture.http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...O-hwoL7sBdcvKQ
here's a video of what you're reffering to
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...GGRtzNk7vI-tgg
I'm describing makeing sure the mounting points on the alternator fit the brackets, give me a minute and I'll find a picture.http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...O-hwoL7sBdcvKQ
here's a video of what you're reffering to
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...GGRtzNk7vI-tgg
Last edited by oldalaskaman; Jul 7, 2012 at 12:33 PM.
Le Mans Master
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http://store.alternatorparts.com/housings-16.aspx
this is what I'm describing, we're lookin at an elephant from different directions
this is what I'm describing, we're lookin at an elephant from different directions