Repairing the Car – Alternator

Technically I’m not repairing the alternator – just adjusting the way it is mounted to make it more stable. Currently the problem is that when the engine is running at idle RPM, the alternator shakes way too much for my liking. Right now the alternator is mounted to a triangular bracket which in turn is sitting on top of two one inch long spacers bolted to the engine. I suspect that the root of the problem are those spacers. The spacers were hand made – cut using an angle grinder. That made the top and bottom of the spacers not perfectly parallel, and each spacer was cut differently. I’m thinking that when both are used, together they create a fulcrum point which the bracket (acting as a lever) rocks back and forth on.

So, I figured out another way to rearrange the stuff to make the alternator more stable without repositioning it. I got rid of one spacer, and moved the other spacer to the alternator side of the bracket instead of the engine side. The bracket is now mounted flat against the engine (with a washer in between) and since only one spacer is used now, it eliminates or softens any fulcrum point making it harder for the alternator to wobble.

At the same time I straightened out the system so the pulley on the alternator is much more parallel to the crank pulley. After I did this work, I filled the radiator back up with water. Then I ran the engine for a minute… voila! The alternator now barely shakes at idle. I’m much happier with the alternator mounting setup now.

Later today I put on the header extensions and marked off where I want the header evac hose nipples to be welded onto them. Jerad came by to pick those up – he is going to have a friend weld those on for me.