308 block mod: opinions?

[Ed]

Hi guys,

im contemplating making up a bracket to hang the alternator low and close to the block.
It may need this lug removed (trying not to though).. so I reckon it can be safely cut off with no ill effects.  What do you guys reckon?


 
Cheers

Ed

[Rob_FE_56]

 G'day Ed.
I've always wondered what that little bugger was for myself.

Grinder should sort it out in short order.lol.

Looking at putting my alternator in the same spot. Never thought about knocking that lug off though.

I'd be keen on seeing some pics when you get your bracket made and set up.

Cheers, Rob.

[TTV6FC]

Hey Ed,I made a stainless bracket for my 308/355 block as the original brackets look like crap.It also hangs very low and it polished up to mirror finish.I'll have a go at posting some photos for you.I didn't have to cut that lug off though....Cheers,Jamie.

[JB]

Nice manicure!!!.

[Ed]

Hey Rob,

I managed to dummy the alternator in position last night.  it sits pretty low and tight but before I get the grinder out I want to check out how much swing I can get on the alternator to tension the belt.  grinding the lug a little will give me a lot of extra movement, but it depends on the belt size available, no point getting more inner movement if i need to swing away.

so will now get a belt.

I will either use a chev style adjuster, or solid mount the alternator and use an idler pulley.  once again depends on the belt sizes available.

My thoughts are using an ideler at this stage, simply because there is not much room for a bracket on the outer side of the alternator..

actually there's not much room for anything!

From the pic you can see the engine mount (behind my nicely manicured hands lol)... this goes up to the subframe rail with not much clearance so that is also the limit of my alternator dimensions.

also cant go down too low as it will hit the sway bar...

and lastly im using a 40A alterntor to fitup, but assume this is the same size as an 85A.

things like these make a Chev an easier fit.

pics to come, my camera ran out of batteries.

Jamie, I would love to see pics of your setup.

Jason, i normally use a hand double for these types of shots.lol

Cheers

Ed

[Ed]

just a couple of pics of the proposed alternator mount position.
you can see how the lug prevents the alterntor from sitting in closer to theblock.



you can see how it sits nice and tight to the block.


not much room the engine mount sits virtually up against the frame when in the car.



need to add some tube and bracing to the top bolt on the head and across to the nearest water pump bolt.

im now favouring the chev style bracket for adjustment due to its simplicity and minimal space requirements

[weddo]

Ed , are those white belt tentioners very expensive?

regards
Weddo

[Ed]

Ed , are those white belt tentioners very expensive?

regards
Weddo

Hey Weddo,
those tensioners are cheap and come in a roll.
pity they dont last very long!

Cheers

Ed

[Rob_FE_56]

 G'day Ed, Thats similar to what I had in mind.

The engine I am using is from a VR statey so the factory brackets stick the alternator out half way into the lhs rail when dropped into an fe-fc. As you know the oil pump location doesnt help much either.

I took the aircon pump off so the alternator will go down there to avoid clutter on top of the engine.

I'd guess the best bet for a belt would be your local industrial drive or bearing joint. Should be a fair range of sizes there.

Just curious, what intake manifold you are running with the efi heads?

Thanks for the pics.

Cheers, Rob.

[Ed]

Hey Rob,

I know what you mean with the factory alternator brackets, V8's were never shoe horned into any standard model.

im using a Harrop Dual plane manifold drilled to accept injectors and an EFI Hardware throttle body.

"torque-power" have a new high-rise dual plane which is supposed to perform quite nice too.  I'm considering the switch to one of these down the track to grow some metal thru the boonet, a little wanky I know...

for the oil pump I notched the subframe rail just a little bit for good clearance.

i will try get a belt this weekend, will try my local autoshop first.  It will be convenient to use a belt from another factory model.

i looked at the tensioner last night and figure to just use a stock style arm which has been cut and welded to suit, mounted off the water pump or timing case bolt.

Glad to be getting round to these fiddly little jobs.

Cheers

Ed

[suziecreamcheese]

chopp his head off

[Ed]

I spent a massive amount of time fabbing up a new alternator mount.

pics are of the bracket in the rough cut stage prior to getting prettied up.

the postion of the alternator had to be re-jigged due to the plugs in the back on the unit hitting the block.

I have the "block hugger" alternator mount in place now and tensioned with an idler pulley down low.  This is placed on the slack side of the belt and puts less stress on the idler bearing.  A little thing I learnt after having previously run an idelr on the tensioned side of the belt resulting in premature bearing failure.

The alt is a 60A JE camira unit which are cheap and plentiful.. compared to the 85A VN V8 units.  if the 60A cannot cope an 85A unit will fit in the same poistion.

No mods were made to the block.

The alternator does not protrude further than the engine mount.

The idler bracket also acts as a fuel pump block off plate.

Also this will obviously not work with a mechanical fuel pump.

Will let you know how it runs.

one last thing to finish off.
Im after 2 small heim joints and turnbuckle to attach to the lower alt mount.

where do you get these?

Cheers

Ed

[Rob_FE_56]

 G'day Ed,

That'll look pretty neat with the corners knocked off and a fresh lick of jam.

Thanks for the pics!

Cheers, Rob.