Alternator fan hitting bottom bracket

[DissFigured]

I took off the old ALT, replaced it with an identical one, and no matter how I position the thing the damn fan hits the lower arm that the Alt bolts to.

I thought of trying to bend the bracket so I could bolt it to the back of the alt, but that wasn't happening for me. I currently have the bottom unhoked which means I drive it and after about 50 miles, the light comes on letting me know the belt has loosened due to vibration.

Anyone had this problem before?

 

[DissFigured]

bump.

 

[krash kendall]

Picture please. Don't know which bracket you have. Did you mount the thing in upside down or something?

 

[mustangdave]

I had this problem before and didn't know why; must be a small difference in the fan spacing. I just ground a little off the lower bracket to alleviate the problem.

 

[DissFigured]

I ground the hell out of the top of the bracket and have the same problem. I cannot fathom how it was on before and not having this problem.

 

[Rusty67]

I know these things are a little pricey but if you switch to a 1 wire late model alternator the fan is on the inside and you don't have to worry about it hiting anything because it can't. And you know whats great about the 130A alternator ? At night when you are idling and then start driving off, yer head lights are just as bright either way !

 

[302 coupe]

you've got soemthing weird going on there, it looks like the alternator is mounted way too low. It appears as if its just above the the strut rod brace on the chassis. The alternator should be mounted 5-6 inches higher than that, that will correct the geometry issue you're having with the lower bracket. That slot where the bolt goes thru should be just about level.

 

[Tim65GT]

posted by 302coupe

you've got soemthing weird going on there, it looks like the alternator is mounted way too low.

Agreed. The angle of the bracket is beacause it's too low or the bracket is bolted to the wrong place.

Here is a picture of mine partially disassembled with a cheapo chrome bracket. It's a 3G alternator, but it's the same brackets I had before with the original 65A. It's the best picture I have now, maybe it'll help.

Once you have the alt positioned correctly, go back to Autozone and find the right length belt.

 

[mustangdave]

I think these guys have hit on something; maybe you need to mount the bracket lower. I can't tell from the pic if the alt. is too low or not.