Here I am just checking out the members rides section ... Some nice cars. I started noticing the alternator is mounted different than what I see on mine. At first I thought it was the 455s but then I saw a couple picks of 350s. uzzled: Did quick google search for original 350 Buick engine and sure enough, my alternator is installed different. There are two bolts to mount the alternator. One is just a straight long bolt and the other is a short bolt and on a adjustable bracket to tighten the belt. Mine has the alternator positioned with the tab adjustment bracket on bottom and the long mounting bolt on top. Pics I am seeing are showing alternator installed with the mounting bracket on top and the long bolt on bottom. I bought the car this way, but did some one screw up on the install or is there a reason for this upside down install...or is this the correct way?
Sounds upside down,they all should have the adjusting bracket on top.:TU:But do post pics,i'm courious:laugh:
As long as it mounts and can be adjusted it really doesn't matter. I'm betting someone swapped the alternator and it was clocked 3 vs 9 so they flipped it upside down instead of rerouting the wiring or reclocking the case.
X2 Just reclock the rear housing of the alt. Someties the alts fit many applications and the rebuilder clocks them wrong for your application. This is not hard to do.
Here is a pic, looks like the guy before me replaced belts, new fan, hoses and maybe water pump? The bottom radiator hose is right in the way of the alternator bracket, if the bracket is mounted where it points up to the top of the engine (the direction that I see in other pics). I am guessing because of the hose, they flipped the bracket. Also the alternator belt is not as tight as I expect it would be if it was installed the stock or correct way. Also note in the pic, the top bolt has the NEG battery connected to it, is that correct? Take a look... thoughts?
That is upsidedown allright.o No:Wonder why he would do that,the bracket is missing alltogether.That piece of pipe being used as a spacer is pretty lame....find the correct bracket. ---------- Post added at 06:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:39 PM ---------- Is it a Buick motor?Take another picture from farther away so we can see more of it.That's just way wrong,bet it vibrates like a SOB!p
Ohhh don't say that. Very new at this stuff and before we started, I didn't even know there was a difference between a Buick 350 and Chevy 350. I do have a Distributor up front!
Yeah the alternator should be up where the coil is in the above picture. The correct brackets come up for sale here fairly often though.
:eek2: Just... wow. Finding the correct bracket would have been far less work I think. While I would be embarrassed to show that to anyone who knew anything about Buicks, I am at the same time impressed by the jerry-rigging.
Yes, it is a buick engine. 350. Alternator should have a base bracket that mounts to the head, and cradles the alternator, then the adjusting arms comes across the top. There is an A/C bracket and non A/C bracket. You need the non A/C bracket for yours.
He probably did it to clean up the top area for the aircleaner.Looks like a stock placement would still clear everything. Chevy,Pontiac,Olds & Buick all had their own versions of a 350 back then.Parts dont interchange between them.
That's pretty crazy. What kind of air cleaner is that? And what's the wire running into the tube of the left air cleaner?
Ah. So maybe it's running underneath it and into the carb then. Looks like it's running into the metal pipe of the air cleaner. I had one of those glass fuel filters once...I liked it, until it randomly just leaked on me. Metal it is! I also thought I was suffering from vapor lock. MOst likely was not the case at all.
