just finishing up my hotcam install and im almost done puting everything back together. well i go to put the alternator back in.... i set it in place put in the small bolts to hold it, then i went to put the long bolt in at the top. i was tightening and everything seemed fine.... then it stripped!!!!! and the bracket around the bolt cracked and fell off!!! the alternator seems pretty sturdy without it but what should i do with it??? replacing the whole bracket looks like way to much work. any ideas?!

.... oh and this def. wont stop me from starting my car after 4 longs days of the cam install.... cant wait!!

 

Heli-coil the hole and have the piece welded back on. There is a lot of tension on that top bolt. If you don't fix it, you will probably end up with a broken alternator housing.

 

yeah i guess that is really my only option! what is the bracket made out of? would i be able to use something like JB weld in order to keep it together?? only problem is that is cracked into 2 pieces around the bolt hole, and i can only find 1 of the pieces hopefully the other piece drops down once i move the car! so do you guys think JB weld will hold up? i appreciate the help!

 

The bracket is aluminum. A competent welder could fill in where you have metal missing and then you could re-do the bolt hole if needed.

 

Same thing happened to me a couple years ago. I ran the car like that for almost a year without a problem. Check on Ebay or maybe call Billy Grahams salvage yard. I got a new bracked for $20 bucks off of Ebay. Swapping it out is a pain because you have to take the power steering pump off and the AC compressor, but it's worth the time.

 

I wouldn't do the JB-weld I'd have it welded. replacing it would be a task but if you could get one for 20 I'd do it.

 

sh*t same thing happened here a year ago and till a couple of hours ago my bracket broke again but this time at both places where the alternator hooks up. i looking to replacing it.

 

yeah it def. sucks!! im just going to have mine welded back together and tap a new hole in it. looks like too much trouble to replace! and after doing the cam install, i need a break from working on the car for a while! i just want to get the thing started!!!

 

i would like to do that but mine broke from the top alternator mount and the lower alt mount, they sell them www.gmpartsdirect.com for only $38.00 i'm going that route. good luck