Hooking up a/c & alt brackets with headers??
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
I ran my headers for well over a year without all the braces in place, I never had any troubles, but then my AC didn't exactly work either.
I had heard about the vibration issues when running the A/C so when I fixed the AC I went ahead and installed the braces.
I had heard about the vibration issues when running the A/C so when I fixed the AC I went ahead and installed the braces.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Ok here are the pictures. I included links rather than just posting the pictures because they are very large.
The first picture here is what I like to call bracket #1, it goes from the intake to the alternator and on to the A/C compressor. Bracket number one is supposed to mount in front of bracket #4, the one bracket you have to leave off. As you can see by the arrow I fabricated a spacer to make this work.
http://home.insightbb.com/~nathan.pl...ics/spacer.jpg
Bracket 4 is supposed to go from this header bolt to where my spacer was, the header primary tube doesn't allow this to happen in any way, thus why you have to leave this out.
http://home.insightbb.com/~nathan.pl...s/bracket4.jpg
The last picture here is of brackets 2 & 3. Using the spacer provided by hooker and one of the original manifold studs you can hook them up exactly like they are supposed to go.
http://home.insightbb.com/~nathan.pl...rackets2_3.jpg
I have found that by running 3 out of the 4 original brackets the car doesn't have any vibration issues with the A/C on. I have done this on two different LT1's with the same results, I really couldn't be happier with it.
The first picture here is what I like to call bracket #1, it goes from the intake to the alternator and on to the A/C compressor. Bracket number one is supposed to mount in front of bracket #4, the one bracket you have to leave off. As you can see by the arrow I fabricated a spacer to make this work.
http://home.insightbb.com/~nathan.pl...ics/spacer.jpg
Bracket 4 is supposed to go from this header bolt to where my spacer was, the header primary tube doesn't allow this to happen in any way, thus why you have to leave this out.
http://home.insightbb.com/~nathan.pl...s/bracket4.jpg
The last picture here is of brackets 2 & 3. Using the spacer provided by hooker and one of the original manifold studs you can hook them up exactly like they are supposed to go.
http://home.insightbb.com/~nathan.pl...rackets2_3.jpg
I have found that by running 3 out of the 4 original brackets the car doesn't have any vibration issues with the A/C on. I have done this on two different LT1's with the same results, I really couldn't be happier with it.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 3
From: Dallas TX
Originally Posted by rodj
Give your L98 a good rev from under the hood and watch the Alt and A/c flex on their mounts.That is why I put my brackets back on.
I could feel it in the entire car when i had mine off on the '94.
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
I wouldn't have known. When I installed the headers I effectively broke the AC and didn't bother to fix it until I knew I had my oil leaks resolved. While the A/C didn't work I learned of the supposed vibration so I thought it would be a good idea to figure out a way to put it back when I did fix the A/C. I got to looking at the hardware provided and figured out how it was supposed to work.
So as such I've never actually felt the vibration, but I fully well believe it exists. I watched one car that had a supercharger dancing around so much I honestly thought it was going to toss the belt and it was just at IDLE!
So as such I've never actually felt the vibration, but I fully well believe it exists. I watched one car that had a supercharger dancing around so much I honestly thought it was going to toss the belt and it was just at IDLE!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 0
From: Cincinnati Ohio
The vibration definatly exists.....I suffered from it last summer. Discovered my brackets were so loose they could be wiggled by hand. Totally dissappeared after getting everything tightened down. Im going to order headers soon and never even considered the brackets a problem.....thnx for the heads up. 
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Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,283
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I guess I got luck with my TPIS headers as they don't even get near to burning my MSD wires and I was able to radius grind factory brackets and reuse factory bolts after also radius grinding their seats. Had to do a little grinding on oil dipstick bracket also.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,283
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
Originally Posted by TA
Here's the Alternater bracket I fabbed up for my headers. Its 1/2" conduit crimped on the ends and bent to the correct angles. I'll eventually being making a simialr AC bracket.
