I've always hated having to mess with that top mount alternator on our cars. Everytime I want to lift a valvecover, adjust rockers, or just use normal aftermarket valve covers. So I've been toying around with relocating it and deleting the power steering. Now I like power steering, but it seems like the only way you have have both is by spending a couple hundred bucks at the least. Since I'm doing a budget mod fest, that isnt in the card.

So, has anyone done this and regretted it later? How rough is armstrong steering in these cars? This car isnt a daily, it's a once a week street/strip car.

Also any DIY relocation tips or part lists?

-Dustin-

 

Well my A/C has been gone for a few years and I havent missed it at all, even being in the southwest with 100+ dergee temps. Actually since the A/C quit on the truck I havent had A/C at all this summer.

When I used to sneak into driveways at night back when I was irresponsible, I used to shut the car off and coast in without power steering, it was rough, be then again there was nothing pushing/driving the car in that direction. I'll probably do it and go back if I cant stand it.

You also have to figure that if you drove without P/S for two months, if I did that I'd only drive the car 3-4 times, I think I can stand that.

-Dustin-

 

Its not that bad you get use to it. At slow speeds you have to use some muscle but once your moving its not that bad. I also am a DIYer and cut down the stock bracket to make it work. So all I had to do was buy a new belt.

 

Man I like that more than the thin bracket ones! Any production pics? I'm very interested. If it wasnt black I could probably tell how and where to cut, but is that just the top part off the accessory bracket? Then you just drilled your own holes?

-Dustin-

 

Now that is pretty cool ltwonz. Nice to see guys using there heads and saving some money. Me, I'm usually not that smart.

 

Now you should fab an A/C compressor mount above the alternator

 

how do you get the belt tight?

 

Yes it is just the top of the bracket. I have a pic of where i first cut it if you want to see the pic, but I ended up triming more down to get a better fit. Also i didnt have to drill any holes one of the stock ones lined up perfect. To tighten the belt you have to have the bolt loose to put the belt on then once you snug it done the belt is plenty tight. Also there is a bolt hole that sticks out of the block that the bracket pushes up against so it can't move or shift, and this really keeps the bracket in place and belt tight. I have some more pics of it on and off the car of you guys want me to post them.

 

Post em up, this might be one heck of a way to reuse that accessory bracket.

Thanks ltwonz.

-Dustin-

 

You could also try this method. It keeps power steering and the tensioner. I've seen others not cut up the bracket for the alt, but they use a 3rd gen alt since it's smaller.

http://forum.fbody.us/showthread.php?t=48683

 

That's pretty interesting also...I wouldnt mind keeping P/S.

-Dustin-

 

dustin, i dont have PS, and i dont care all that much. Is it noticable? yes, is it bad? not at all.

 

reamo04 you have skinnies or street tires? Whats the hardest part about not having it on an F-body? I've driven other vehicles without, 57 Chevy, 69 Chevelle, older trucks, but never a 4th Gen.

-Dustin-

 

 

Userchemical, how did you make that work? Add a pulley where the Alt bolt went? So how does the Alt mount?

ltwonz - Lets see some of those pics

-Dustin-