Somebody PLEASE tell me this is stock!

[turtlejoe]

Really ticked now, spent all day trying to find an alternator that fits. It appears that the 15 different alternators I tried at 5 different stores won't fit my pivot bolt ...

My main pivot bolt is 3/8 dia, with a 5/8 hex. What's yours? Why can't I find a part that fits? Anyone have a NAPA part number for a part that fits this requirement?

Since the matching hole is tapped into my block (for the 3/8 dia. bolt) do I have any other options?

[ March 23, 2003, 05:29 PM: Message edited by: turtlejoe ]

[brent]

Maybe I got lucky...just tightened my alt/belt last week. 1/2" on both pivot and tension bolts. I'm going to doublecheck the alt itself not's held in by a 3/8ths or I'll be singing the same blues someday...
..and I'm pretty sure my alt's not stock.
Brent

[like2wheel]

Had this trouble a week ago. I ended up bringing my alt to the store and had them pulling some and checking them out. I ended up using an alt from a 84 Chevy truck. It may have been 85amps. I had to take the case apart and reclock it 180 degrees. This was the only one I could get to work. Take the 4 screws out and pull the case apart. Make sure to leave the rotor in the case. You will be trying to get the brushes back in if you dont. Simply turn the case around 180 degrees and remount. This worked for my 84Grand w/360.

[turtlejoe]

You wouldn't happen to remember a part number would you? What store did you find it at?

Thanks, you have no idea how much this helps - knowing where to start looking should lead to a happy result.

[Stolen76]

You could have a 7/16" shoulder on a 3/8" bolt. If it is 3/8" all the way down, almost any GM alternator from the 80's will work. They were almost all 10SI's. Like mentioned before, you may have to reclock it 180.

[turtlejoe]

It appears to be 3/8" from thread to hex, but I still don't understand why every possible Jeep application listed didn't fit. Reclocking isn't an issue and I'll start looking at the 80's GM applications tomorrow. Heck, I'd be willing to bore out the hole in the case to fit if I had a drill press.

I'd still like to know if this pivot bolt arrangement is stock or not ... but that can wait until the truck is mobile again.

[oddfire]

I put mine on the drill press and drilled out the pivot hole to 7/16............phil

[Bob Barry]

If it's the stock head on that side of the Jeep, that pivot-bolt would be a 7/16" bolt (if you think finding a 6.5" long 3/8" bolt is tough, well, try finding a 7/16" bolt that long!). They reduced the size to 3/8" in '79. Since the first year of the Delco alternator on the V-8 was '78, that 7/16" pivot-bolt-compatible Delco alternator was a one-year only item.

I concur with the above; just drill out the pivot hole to 7/16".

And use LOTS of anti-sieze. Maybe consider drilling the pivot for a grease-fitting, so you can periodically pump some in there to prevent corrosion (I'm only somewhat kidding here).

[2nd Day]

i had to drill up my main pivot bolt to a 3/8. i dont know that the bolt was origiinal but it fits into the block. if your main bolt is the prob drillin it up wont hurt anything that i know of...

[JeepFreak]

Some of those used the adapter/spacer behind the pivot bolt that was known for breaking off in the block. When that happened to me I used a piece of pipe for a new spacer and drilled the hole out on the alternator to fit the new bolt. This may have happend on your at one time as well. Just a thought.

[turtlejoe]

So, in order to get my truck back on the road and get to work I cheated.

I got the new alternator, and a 3/8-16 X 3" GM starter bolt, washers, and a Ny-Lok nut. Since there are 2 bracket attach points (plus the lower adjustment bracket) before the spacer that was there, I thought this should work for a week until I get access to a drill press or have someone bore out my new case. Stuck it in there, adjusted the belts and tightened everything up and so far, everything seems to be in good shape. Fatigue on the brackets is a concern, but for one weeks time and 200 miles and don't think it will be an issue.

Gotta love these one year production items ... if I ever pull the heads I'm going to have the 7/16 thread replaced with the 3/8-16, either by Heli-coil or bonded in insert. Just seems it will make like much easier.

Bonus? I convinced the wife that my battery needs to go to, and it will be replaced with an Optima. Since my birthday was Saturday, I'll consider it a great gift! She thinks it's absurd to tell her family she got me a battery for my birthday, but they just don't understand. :D

[turtlejoe]

After sitting overnight, the battery discharged again and the weird ammeter readings returned - charging at 30-40 constant, dropping to near 0 at idle and clicking back and forth from slight discharge to slight charge, then back to 30-40 while driving. I had the alt. and battery load tested again and all looked good, save the ammeter readings.

Got home last night, and suspected the electric window circuit was goofed so I pulled the fuse. Ammeter readings went back to normal, and no discharge overnight. So, at least I found out what burned up my voltage regulator!

Guess I'll be chasing the circuit this weekend. but at least the problem has been located.

Thanks for all the help!

[ March 26, 2003, 07:22 AM: Message edited by: turtlejoe ]

[az mike]

drill press i just used a drill my 82 had the same thing so every time alt went out had to drill agian