I bought upper and lower BB brackets for my 454. I don't even think I need the lower but for some reason the lower hole (with the spacer) on the alternator doesn't line up with the hole in the block. Do I need the lower bracket? See these pictures. Thanks in advance! - james

1) http://jimmysashstrat.tripod.com/guitars/index.album?i=6&s=1

2) http://jimmysashstrat.tripod.com/guitars/index.album?i=7&s=1

3) http://jimmysashstrat.tripod.com/guitars/index.album?i=8&s=1

Are you using the correct two mounting holes in the alt? Can't see in the pic because your hand is covering it. Those alts have different 'clock' settings. The front cover is rotated from 12 o'clock to say 3 o'clock so that the mounting holes line up and the wires connectores on the back are in the correct location.

Not a Big Block guy but are you trying to screw it into the proper hole? It almost looks like you are too high.

I've got a 454 in my 68SS and my alternator is on the drivers side? Not sure the difference, but I also have a short water pump...Are the long pumps what put the alternator on the passenger side? Seems like things should line up....

They're on passenger side on bbc non-ac 70 and I think thru 72. I think he has the right hole but the pic is too close up to see everything.

Like Hank said , your hand is in the way :(

There should be a stud about 5" or so long that is 7/16" on the end that screws into this hole in the head and 3/8" on the end the goes through the alternator with a spacer between the alternator and the head.

are you sure that you have the correct alt? I had one that was out of some late modle Late 80's? gm car, it looks just like a regular alternator but it is a little bigger I think and nothing youl line up, I think the adjusting bolt was metric, as was the bracket mounting bolt for that tube by your hand Jim

as said in the above post, there is the stud and a spacer, but there is one more more part:

The parts are in order from engine block to end of stud: stud (bolts into block at 20 - 30 lbs), brace-rear (this brace goes on the stud and the other end of the brace attaches onto the alternator, spacer, alternator, lower bracket (this also attaches to the water pump), nut (according to the Chevrolet manual there is not a washer before the nut).

Also, it does appear that you have an incorrect lower bracket for a 70; the actual factory bracket does not have the two steps in about the middle of the bracket.

Also, the upper bracket attaches to the intake manifold with a stud not a bolt; this raises the upper bracket approx 3/8 off the intake. the stud attaches the bracket with a lock washer and a nut (tighten nut 18 - 22 lbs)

But after reviewing your pics again, I now think your lower bracket is incorrect. I believe this because you should be able to connect the alt stud first (with everything that goes on this stud including the alt), then the lower bracket should just fit in place. Or like the post above (which I just saw after my first edit) you have the wrong alt.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=337

its been a few years since ive had a bb and those look like small block parts, are they the same?, i'm thinking not, just sayin

I ordered them from OPGI. The bolt kit that they have available says it "Includes long mounting stud, top bolt and washer." and right now I'm using the exact piece that the guy that I bought the motor from had his alternator mounted with and it was fine so i assume it's alright. Also the lower bracket I got is advertised as being for 69-77 big blocks. I'm using the same alternator from a much earlier 327, but i thought they were universal for most of the 60's and early-mid 70's. Here are some more pictures. I circled the spacer because of the way it mounts to the alternator in the catalogs i've noticed that it doesn't actually mount to the alternator it's just a steel tube but my alternator requires that it be bolted. Hmm. I really appreciate all the responses so far. - james

http://jimmysashstrat.tripod.com/guitars/index.album?i=9&s=1

http://jimmysashstrat.tripod.com/guitars/index.album?i=10&s=1

http://jimmysashstrat.tripod.com/guitars/index.album?i=11&s=1

http://jimmysashstrat.tripod.com/guitars/index.album?i=12&s=1

Was going to take a pic of mine this morning but the camera batteries where dead. I'll try to get one tonight, your mounting brackets do look a little different but it's hard to tell for sure.

i just checked mine and, im not saying mines stock in any shape or form, but, your parts look like mine, and, i have like a 5/8 inch spacer between the upper bracket and the waterpump mount (which, i think, would help move yers closer) and the upper point is on top of the thermo housing nut...i think we all agree the bottom one needs to be correct...i would put the bottom one in first and make sure the pulleys line up and everything looks good and shim and mangle from there

Maybe My pictures will help some... The heads in the photo are stock 049s. I have Merlin heads now, and those pictures will only confuse you more.

http://www.chevelle-ss.com/Members_Pages/Mike_S_files/Misc_Photos/Harlands_1.JPG

http://www.chevelle-ss.com/Members_Pages/Mike_S_files/Misc_Photos/Engine_08-15-02.JPG

Just ignore the serpentine belt. It does not affect your goal.

It is important to note that I had to "finesse" the top bracket some because the aftermarket intake and water pump did not help matters as far as tolerances go. I think I just widened the hole that attaches to the intake.

good luck.

Mike, you have a 12SI alt, should be the same mount as the 10SI though.

mine is a 70 396 the same i think. that lower braket does not look correct for a 70. not sure about the alt. it self. i measured the mounting bolt holes on mine,they are 6 1/2" center to center and i don't have any spacers other than the one behind alt. on the long bolt,my spacer doesn't bolt to alt. but that shouldn't matter. hope you get it lined up got mine off putting bigger pulley on.

Mount the alternator to the cylinder head using the lower bracket, spacer and bolt, then "finesse" the upper adjustment bracket to fit as was mentioned earlier.

I don't even see how the lower bracket attaches. Does anyone have a picture because the connections don't seem right plus I can't even see a lower mount in BB mike's pictures. Do I have to use it?

Should bolt to the water pump with two bolts.

You are aware that there are several different upper adjustment brackets right?
Like Mike said sometimes you have to modify the hole for the intake bolt.

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/1360/altbrk0062si.th.jpg (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=altbrk0062si.jpg)

Yes...Lower bracket mounts to the two right-side water pump bolts. This will dictate where your alternator pivot stud is located.

Well, actually they aren't realy the "water pump bolts" and the "pivot stud goes in the threaded hole in the head so that can't be changed.

Dean;

Yes you are correct...the bolts aren't actually the ones that bolt the water pump to the block, but they are bosses off of the right-side of the water pump. How exactly do you think that this bracket will not dictate where the spacer and pivot stud are located. The stud, bracket, alternator lower-mount, and spacer all line-up. It does you no good to bolt the alternator up to a hole in the front of the head if the stud doesn't go through the front support bracket. What I was trying to convey is that if you bolt this bracket up to the water pump...it will positively identify what hole on the head is the proper one. If it doesn't line-up with a hole in the head, then you have either the wrong support bracket or a head without the proper holes.