Hello. I just installed a new set of aftermarket valve covers and noticed that the alternator will not fit anymore. By examining the stock ones, I noticed that there was an indentation on the valve cover to make room for the alternator. Since my new valve covers do not have this indentation, is there any way to make the alternator fit or do they sell aftermarket ones that will fit? Thanks.

 

are they tall valve covers? if so they will not fit, if you want to run the tall valve covers you need to get the canton fabed ones they have a cut out for the alt.

 

No, the valve covers are standard size. They look identical to the stock ones with the exception of the indentation.

 

(coughuseahammer) Same here. Just used a little force (hammer) and made the chrome set look like the oem set.

 

agreed....little bit of hammer...you can't see behind it anyway

 

the altenator has 2 (think) pieces that hold it on that are not needed.. atleast one i cant remember

the only thing you really need to is the 2 main bolts that hold the altenator on look at the altenator and you'll see what i mean if you havn't done removed them

 

I don't think this is the issue that he's having, no disrespect. You can clearance the back of the alternator. Do a search there is a thread with pics somewhere. I clearanced mine for my Chrome bowtie covers.

 

How much is required to be ground off the back of the alternator? How much is safe? I'm thinking that the metal on the back of the alternator casing is pretty thick???

 

I had to go with 1/4" taller valve covers on the new 388 I built to clear the Scorpion 1.7RRs. This caused alternator clearance issues too.

I used my grinder and ground off the areas of the alternator causing the interference. I first taped off all the opening on the alternator to prevent the aluminum dust from entering.

Worked fine and the grinding can't be seen with the alternator mounted.

Jake

 

Some people have ground of the ear of metal on the alternator if the clearance issue is only minor.

 

go look at the alt for a 96 impala ss. there will be 2 starters listed. look at the smaller of the 2. if you take the face loose and spin it 180 degrees and grind very little off , it will fit. its smaller in size and has slightly less ampage. i had it in my hand today when mine died. i checked the bolt pattern and it matched. i was in just to big of a hurry trying to get ready for a dyno run tomorrow morning, to mess with it. so i got a factory replacement. its a option you can look at.

 

2 starters? You lost me.

Jake

 

yep the impala ss shows 2 different alternators listed. they are 2 different sizes and yes i mean physical size. it struk me as weird also. i was looking for another part number because they didn't have the factory piece for my car in stock. call advance and have them look it up tomorrow, for the part numbers. make sure you say 96 impala ss.

 

We were discussing alternator clearance, then you mentioned "starters" so I got confused, wondering how we went from alternators to starters.

What did I miss?

Jake

 

I think that it was just a typo? I believe he or she meant alternator. Thanks for the advice and I'll definitely check it out.