Did the FGFs have two alternator straps for holding belt tension, one attached to the thermostat housing, or just one attached to the water pump? Manual just shows one I have two. If two is there a special bolt going through the front hole of the housing? Every time I loosen the thermostat housing nut to move the rear support bracket I leak anti freeze. Every other car I've owned that had a bracket attached there had a bolt with a stud above the bolt head so the bracket could be loosened without loosening the housing. Manual shows a special bolt with threads above and below the head but for the rear housing hole.
Thermostat housing does have a special stud which is as you've described. It's frustrating when the original hardware gets tossed and generic bolts used in its place.
Thanks guys. I wonder why the parts manual only shows the front strap? I have a stud in the thermostat housing now, if I put a nut on then put the rear strap on top it's too high. I'll try a low profile nut if I can find one.
and those are all power steering brackets are you running power steering ....
manual steering only had the single front bracket a large C shaped ...
looks like a 68 timing cover 1 year only 68-70's balancer non ac water pump and 68 n newer crank pulley
4" water pump
power steering rear bracket 65 66 ? the bottom half doesnt look 67 n newer ...and 67 68 ? upper adjustment brackets
Scott
oh
and possibly when using the front thermo stud it throws off the adjustment slot at the alternator I would lean towards the wrong altternator mounting bottom bracket
it all comes back to are you running power steering or not and the alternator mounting bracket thats correct for your needs
to me it looks like your mixing years of parts and manual and power ateering
and those are all power steering brackets are you running power steering ....
manual steering only had the single front bracket a large C shaped ...
looks like a 68 timing cover 1 year only 68-70's balancer non ac water pump and 68 n newer crank pulley
4" water pump
power steering rear bracket 65 66 ? the bottom half doesnt look 67 n newer ...and 67 68 ? upper adjustment brackets
Scott
oh
and possibly when using the front thermo stud it throws off the adjustment slot at the alternator I would lean towards the wrong altternator mounting bottom bracket
it all comes back to are you running power steering or not and the alternator mounting bracket thats correct for your needs
to me it looks like your mixing years of parts and manual and power ateering
.
That sure answers several unasked questions... I’m thinking... parts for sale?
I'm a hobbyist. Not a professional. Don't be hatin'!
Black Judge, Boy, you got all that from looking at an engine on a stand in my garage? Good eyes. Obviously know more about that stuff than I do. !968 428 block and balancer. Yes, 68 timing cover and water pump, Yes, I have power steering, pump and hoses still in car when this photo taken. No, I do not have AC. I went through all the numbers I could find on the power steering and alternator brackets when I was trying to find the correct pulleys, as far as I could tell they were for a 68, but who knows? Water pump pulley was from a six cylinder when I bought the car, would have left it on but it wobbled. I have a washer under the rear strap to make it align more with the front strap, the proper stud without the washer may do the same? Next time I try to insert washers here and there in order to get the belts to align straight I will ask you for advice. Thank you.
Oh yeah, could also be the aftermarket intake manifold sits on just a little different plane than the stock.
Bluebird, I can’t speak to the appropriate pulley diameters, year appropriate balancer, power steering brackets,... but I don’t think anyone really cares...and it wasn’t the question you asked. It’s like when you go to a car show/ cruise night, and the local “expert†feels the need to share his “knowledge†regarding the correctness of your hood tach, or headrests, or steering wheel...or can’t understand why “ no one paints the center exhaust portsâ€(yes. All are true) Usually, they’ll start telling you that the USED to have a ‘66 Camaro with the original big block 428...a lot of unsolicited BS.
Re your query: My ‘68 has the 2 brackets. However, they don’t line up perfectly anymore because I’m using an E’brock intake which, apparently, is a bit different at that mounting point than the original. They still work just fine. Let me know if you want a photo just to campare.
I'm a hobbyist. Not a professional. Don't be hatin'!
Well I do have the pulleys that are correct, according to the manual on the First Gen Site, someone was kind enough to list. I didn't care if I had the correct numbers for the sake of having the correct numbers, but was having trouble lining everything up so the belts were straight. Black Judge may be correct, the brackets may be from another year/car, but they are also 50 years old and have some wear. A shim/washer here and there is required to get the pulley grooves all on the same plane. I've had to take the alternator off a few times the last few months chasing down a rough idle snag. Everytime I loosen the thermostat housing nut I get some antifreeze on the lip of the valley pan. I suppose I should have gooped up the housing and gasket, but I like to leave them bare as it's easier to clean up incase the thermostat has to be changed. Do you have the special stud on yours? This hasn't bothered me in the last ten years, but I haven't had to loosen off the housing nut before.
I'm still amazed Black Judge can tell all that from a photograph.
I suppose I should check if someone needs a six cylinder pulley, wasn't the pulley that wobbled but the spacer behind it. Hmm off topic again.
I do not use the “double studâ€. It would alter the angle of that rear alternator bracket even more. I’m sure I have one in the various boxes of bolts I have, if you need it.
Re pulleies, I replaced my water pump pulley with one that is a smaller diameter to get more water flow. Seems to have helped. I also had to use a spacer behind it...made a jig on my table saw to cut an aluminum spacer to the proper length. Came out perfectly. Since I also use a spacer on the other side, I super glued the both spacers to the pulley to make installation easier. Got some grade 8 bolts of the proper length, and all is well. It works so well that, even though I have since found the “correct†pulley for this application, I see no need to replace it.
I'm a hobbyist. Not a professional. Don't be hatin'!
The one I had was a smaller diameter also. Most likely put on for the same reason, more flow. After I replaced it was when I discovered the spacer behind was not true and causing the wobble. If I knew that before I took it off I would have just replaced the spacer and left the pulley. Runs cool enough in 110+F with the larger one on so it will stay now.
Just for a different view, and its not as pretty, but here's my bolt...
Just FYI - Your two alternator brackets at the alternator should be touching each other and connected to the back of the alternator. Not spread apart and one on the front and one on the back.