Alternator mounting dilemma???

[Byteme]

So, I went to the Pull a Part yesterday, and picked up a couple things for my truck. The one that baffles me most is the aluminum spacer that goes between the alternator and block. I never could figure out why the PO had a metal L bracket bolted to the intake with the alt bolt run through it, until yesterday. The pass side head doesn't have any threaded holes. Anybody have any insight as to what's going on with this. The boss is there, but it's not threaded. Is it a driver's side head? Every head i've ever seen had the same holes drilled and tapped on both ends, but this is my first 400. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thanks in advance for any advice.

--Shawn--

[unrulee]

Hmmmm not sure why the hole for the alt wouln't be threaded. Sure it's just not full of paint, crud, etc? Maybe someone stripped out the threads? You could try a blind hole tap in there to make some threads.

[Byteme]

Thanks for the response. It actually looks like there is a miniature freeze plug in it, as well as the other hole (outward). I just want to be sure that if I did tap the hole, that I wouldn't be getting into a coolant passage or anything. I guess if I did, I could just put some thread sealer on the bolt though, right? Just seems like a horrible reason to have to change a head, ya know, just to mount the friggin alternator.

[80broncoman]

Originally Posted by Byteme

Thanks for the response. It actually looks like there is a miniature freeze plug in it, as well as the other hole (outward). I just want to be sure that if I did tap the hole, that I wouldn't be getting into a coolant passage or anything. I guess if I did, I could just put some thread sealer on the bolt though, right? Just seems like a horrible reason to have to change a head, ya know, just to mount the friggin alternator.

I ran into the something like that on my truck when I bought it. At some point a PO had installed a M series CAR eingine in the truck. And since it had the LARGE case 100amp alt they rigged up the worst setup I have ever seen. (I've seen plenty)
They bolted the pivoit bolt to the head with the spacer but Without any knid of bracing at all and it broke off the bolt at some point in the past. So then the brainchild welds a nut to the front of the head.
the way i got it there was still no triagledated brace for the pivot bolt and of course the belt was slipping under load because it could not be tightned properly.
I had to thread the hole you are about to, so I could fix mine. I found the hole was already 7/16ths so I taped it 1/2 13 and then I welded a 7/16 nut to the top of the bolt because i didn't want to drill out my alt to 1/2 inch.
With a straight rod to brace the front of the alt mine now works fine.

[Byteme]

So, I should be fine, then. Thanks, I guess I'll get into that when I put on my new intake next weekend. Thanks, guys.

[Byteme]

Just wanted to update and let you guys know that I fixed this. Someone had indeed broken the bolt off in the hole. Drilled it and removed with an EZ out. Chased hole with a tap, and now I'm back in business. Thanks again, now if UPS would just bring me my intake...