Alternator problems...
Discussion
This topic has bothered me, couldn't quite remember what I wanted to say until I talked to my father-in law. Being an old hotrodder, the first thing he said to me was, "If they are breaking bolts and burning up alternators, the first thing to check is the mounting brackets. Modern alternators are more relaible than generators. They should last forever. You have to make sure that the alternator is parallel and square to the block and the crank pulley". Followed by some great stories about putting '48 flathead engines in '32 roadsters. It seems to have been a similar problem for early customizers when things had to be relocated to fit in tight spaces.
Hearing this jogged my memory, and I recalled what I was trying to remember. When people were first installing better car stereo gear and were upgrading to larger alternators, they had some similar problems.
Don't know if this is really the case with Ultima's or not.
Hearing this jogged my memory, and I recalled what I was trying to remember. When people were first installing better car stereo gear and were upgrading to larger alternators, they had some similar problems.
Don't know if this is really the case with Ultima's or not.
There has been some alternator problems with some cars in the past. My original one went within 500 miles and indeed, was down to the bracket flexing. This duffed the bearings although, the chromed alternators that AS were supplying at the time (they've since changed suppliers I believe) weren't that good. I think it went along the lines of the supplier being good at chroming, rather than being good at bolting the alternators back together once they'd been chromed!
I took care to make sure the new one was bolted up absolutely paralell and so far, no further problems.
I took care to make sure the new one was bolted up absolutely paralell and so far, no further problems.
I have broken my second top bolt. You know the bolt has broken when you first here the belt squeal. The other Czech cars have replaced their mounting brackets with custom-made ones. I will replace mine too now, just as soon as it stops raining here. The GTR is all clean in the garage, waiting for some wax when its owner finally acquires some ambition. Then it will be driven downtown Prague to a parking place next to that Ferrari Peter told us about.
Anyone know if the factory modified the alternator brackets since October last year? Others must be having the same problems.
Peter, nice to see you on the road again after such an extensive upgrade of your GTR. You already had the highest specs offered, but now... zoom. Nice weather is coming, or so I hear.
Peter, nice to see you on the road again after such an extensive upgrade of your GTR. You already had the highest specs offered, but now... zoom. Nice weather is coming, or so I hear.
ultimarobert said:Not really Ultima, since the alternator/bracket come from American Speed (if that's where the engine was sourced). Mine came with a nice billet aluminium bracket that looks fine - you can just about see the brackets in this pic, and this one
Anyone know if the factory modified the alternator brackets since October last year? Others must be having the same problems.
I can claim to be a bit of an expert in the broken alternator bracket/bolt fraternity. This was a bugbear I faced on a number of occasions, usually when far from home. Originally l had the naff chromed plated pressed steel job which structurally was a disaster as the greatest moment on the bracket was where the biggest hole was drilled with predictable results.
So l acquired one of the smart looking billet aluminium brackets which cost more than the alternator. Then l thought all was well until l kept having a flat battery which resulted in a breakdown at a motorway junction. I was lucky in that another Ultima owner came to the rescue (what coincidence that then?) but when he attempted to tow start me the rope broke and pinged back at my car, taking a chunk out of the bonnet. To add insult to injury, the battery was wrecked all because, as I found out later, the top bolt had broken and the alternator had swung down and cut one of the cables against the chassis hence the poor charging. New high tensile steel bolt fitted. Problem solved I thought.
But no! In Luxemburg on a Friday night l heard a clonk and said to myself, that sounds like alternator hitting chassis and so it was. A bolt had sheared off in the block and it took my wife’s powers of persuasion (considerable) to get a garage to extract the bolt the next day so I could fit a new one. I now keep the belt fairly slack as the eccentric load on the bracket will always be a problem unless the bracket is designed differently, for example with a tie back to the engine block from the back of the alternator so the bracket becomes a compression member, not a cantilever with a high moment applied. Give it a try.
So l acquired one of the smart looking billet aluminium brackets which cost more than the alternator. Then l thought all was well until l kept having a flat battery which resulted in a breakdown at a motorway junction. I was lucky in that another Ultima owner came to the rescue (what coincidence that then?) but when he attempted to tow start me the rope broke and pinged back at my car, taking a chunk out of the bonnet. To add insult to injury, the battery was wrecked all because, as I found out later, the top bolt had broken and the alternator had swung down and cut one of the cables against the chassis hence the poor charging. New high tensile steel bolt fitted. Problem solved I thought.
But no! In Luxemburg on a Friday night l heard a clonk and said to myself, that sounds like alternator hitting chassis and so it was. A bolt had sheared off in the block and it took my wife’s powers of persuasion (considerable) to get a garage to extract the bolt the next day so I could fit a new one. I now keep the belt fairly slack as the eccentric load on the bracket will always be a problem unless the bracket is designed differently, for example with a tie back to the engine block from the back of the alternator so the bracket becomes a compression member, not a cantilever with a high moment applied. Give it a try.
This sounds like bad news. I haven't had the car on the road long enough to experience this problem, but it doesn't sound like the pulley is out of alignment. No belts have slipped off, and if the belt isn't worn unevenly then I wouldn't think this is a problem. Have you guys asked the factory for advice?
These motors have been around for so long, it is strange that there aren't more solutions. I would check to see what the circle track guys run. Also, alternator location may be a factor. I had to shim my alternator bracket to get it in alignment with my crank trigger sensor. Keep us posted on a solution. Check with the guys over at www.chevytalk.com.
Cheers!
-Mack
These motors have been around for so long, it is strange that there aren't more solutions. I would check to see what the circle track guys run. Also, alternator location may be a factor. I had to shim my alternator bracket to get it in alignment with my crank trigger sensor. Keep us posted on a solution. Check with the guys over at www.chevytalk.com.
Cheers!
-Mack
Hi Robert,
I can´t offer an easy solution. We changed the alternator (now 100A, high quality), modified the existing bracket, added a custom steel one to fix the alt in the right angle, and (together with the new motor) installed a serpentine pulley set with serpentine belt and automatic tensioner. Result is great - absolutely trouble free performance, and we rev now up to 7.500!
Could post some photos later this week if anybody wants.
Peter
I can´t offer an easy solution. We changed the alternator (now 100A, high quality), modified the existing bracket, added a custom steel one to fix the alt in the right angle, and (together with the new motor) installed a serpentine pulley set with serpentine belt and automatic tensioner. Result is great - absolutely trouble free performance, and we rev now up to 7.500!
Could post some photos later this week if anybody wants.
Peter
Slightly OT, but I have had a myriad of problems trying to find a solution with my alternator, dry sump pump and water pump mountings and belts etc. The factory has advised me that my mounts are sub-standard (although it hasn't thrown a belt since I have got the correct thickness and new pulleys), but it is always in the back of my mind while driving.
With this in mind I was considering upgrading the whole damned lot using a serpentine belt and pulley system.
Ok its not the cheapest option, but once fitted you only have to carry one spare belt and because they are all running from one device to another, the belt distances between them is short, so reducing slip. Also because the drive belt is considerably wider, you need less tension on the belts as there is more surface area in contact with the pulley.
Has anyone had any similar ideas and or experience with these kits?
With this in mind I was considering upgrading the whole damned lot using a serpentine belt and pulley system.
Ok its not the cheapest option, but once fitted you only have to carry one spare belt and because they are all running from one device to another, the belt distances between them is short, so reducing slip. Also because the drive belt is considerably wider, you need less tension on the belts as there is more surface area in contact with the pulley.
Has anyone had any similar ideas and or experience with these kits?
Looks like Ultimacz is running serpentine. I wouldn't go for any underdrive pulley setup as this will probably reduce the water pump speed at idle too much. March makes a real good serpentine conversion for older smallblocks. Its a nice setup. Let us know what you find out.
Cheers!
-Mack
Cheers!
-Mack
Good golly Peter! I will need to sell some shares and find a great mechanic just to keep anywhere close to your red machine on the motorway.
I just returned from Denmark today and will polish the GTR this evening, albeit with still unreparied alternator bolt. Realistically, I am thinking of just slipping in a titanium bolt and see how far it gets.
Hope to see you out around town sometime.
I just returned from Denmark today and will polish the GTR this evening, albeit with still unreparied alternator bolt. Realistically, I am thinking of just slipping in a titanium bolt and see how far it gets.
Hope to see you out around town sometime.
It is a piece of angle that bolts on to the engine mount and bolts on to a square piece on the alternator which has a thread in it, same plane as the mount. I would say the photo was from the factory as that is the one they sent me. Not a very difficult job to fit neither.
Regards
Chris
Regards
Chris
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