alternator swap

[Toronado3800]

Not the best of pictures but I just wanted to add I found it possible to use a 15mm socket and some extensions, including one with a wobble, to insert that hidden back bolt more easily than reaching under.

Right after I took this photo I realized  what I think is a power steering line was not secured to the cross member as it should be and was rubbing on the motor mount bottom right of the pic.

[sall]

Again this a great write-up. I removed the alternator after a twelve hour work day without removing the radiator. Sure it can be done but it is a PITA. I rebuilt the HO alternator and said to myself,"F that. Not doing it again." It has been a three years I'll just drain the coolant and pull the radiator. Much easier. I still use dex cool(I know) so frequent changes are pretty imperative anyways.

[renaldo0613]

Sall buddy! Swaping the alternator on this car is no walk in the park at all!! I remember doing this 3 times in a 3 month period before I decided to buy a HO alternator.

[RCA1186]

I just did this last night after mine suddenly quit on me.

My thoughts on it;

#1 I undid the body side of the ground tipsy broke as well, but mine didn't break haha. I did not find it necessary to remove the engine side, just needed to move it out of the way to make wrenching the top alternator stud easier

#2 to go along with #1 it is not necessary to unbolt and swing out the bracket on top with the studs. You only need to unbolt the alternator from the bracket, it comes out easy without doing the rest

#3 I was indeed able to remove the alternator without removing the radiator. I did have to pull the fans and the airbox, and loosen the trans cooler line enough to swing it out of the way for clearance. Also took about ten minutes time but it's a lot less messy. I would only take out the radiator if I needed a coolant change as well. Seems like more work than it's worth (and a greater expense if you can't re-use the coolant.) I don't see how you could damage the radiator with it still in there. You'd have to be pretty rough with it.

#4 That bolt that hangs up on the manifold is a poor design and GM should feel bad.

#5 I might try and unbolt that bracket that blocks the lower stud if I do this ever again, I think it would be worth the time for the extra room. (just for wrenching purposes)

#6 I pulled the passenger wheel and liner. It isn't necessary at all, I just think it makes it much easier, much more room to work. I would imagine you could get away cocking the wheel all the way to the right and just bending the liner back.

All in all it really isn't TOO hard, just time consuming. Hopefully the new alternator lasts!

[Toronado3800]

Aug 28, 2018 7:34:58 GMT -6 RCA1186 said:

I just did this last night after mine suddenly quit on me.

My thoughts on it;

#1 I undid the body side of the ground tipsy broke as well, but mine didn't break haha. I did not find it necessary to remove the engine side, just needed to move it out of the way to make wrenching the top alternator stud easier

#2 to go along with #1 it is not necessary to unbolt and swing out the bracket on top with the studs. You only need to unbolt the alternator from the bracket, it comes out easy without doing the rest

#3 I was indeed able to remove the alternator without removing the radiator. I did have to pull the fans and the airbox, and loosen the trans cooler line enough to swing it out of the way for clearance. Also took about ten minutes time but it's a lot less messy. I would only take out the radiator if I needed a coolant change as well. Seems like more work than it's worth (and a greater expense if you can't re-use the coolant.) I don't see how you could damage the radiator with it still in there. You'd have to be pretty rough with it.

#4 That bolt that hangs up on the manifold is a poor design and GM should feel bad.

#5 I might try and unbolt that bracket that blocks the lower stud if I do this ever again, I think it would be worth the time for the extra room. (just for wrenching purposes)

#6 I pulled the passenger wheel and liner. It isn't necessary at all, I just think it makes it much easier, much more room to work. I would imagine you could get away cocking the wheel all the way to the right and just bending the liner back.

All in all it really isn't TOO hard, just time consuming. Hopefully the new alternator lasts!

I like these updates. Do you think doing the work with the radiator in place is more dangerous tobthe radiator than removing the radiator is? I'm clumsy sometimes so I think about them things. FWIW, I had my radiator go bad after an alternator failed under warranty and I did the swap. A coincidence? I dunno, was it gonna fail anyways? Who is to say.

[RCA1186]

I don't know about the danger of either. I'd argue you could possibly strip the fittings for the trans line, etc taking the radiator out. I think it might just come down to preference, what you feel comfortable doing. I felt comfortable enough that I wouldn't damage the radiator. It came down to common sense as well...i/e putting my hand behind the wrench when breaking bolts on the alternator loose so the wrench didn't have a chance of going into the radiator. Making sure I didn't press the alternator against the radiator etc. There's enough clearance though(with the fans out), that the only time the alternator even comes close to the the radiator is when you slip it through the opening where the air box was.