Alternator Adjustment Bracket
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Winnipeg Canada
Alternator Adjustment Bracket
The alternator adjustment bracket on my 300 CI engine has a hole for a bolt (?) but the hole in the block is not threaded to accept a bolt. I discovered this while attempting to adjust the 2 belts to the alternator to eliminate squealing. Is the bracket shown missing something? The engine is in a 1980 F100 but is a rebuilt one and the short block even though it was likely installed in the late '90's early 2000's could be from the 1970's.
Is anyone familiar with this bracket? It would seem that a pin rather than a bolt (because of no threads) would work because once the adjustment bolt and the pivot bolt on the alternator are tight the bottom of that bracket will not move out of position.
Is anyone familiar with this bracket? It would seem that a pin rather than a bolt (because of no threads) would work because once the adjustment bolt and the pivot bolt on the alternator are tight the bottom of that bracket will not move out of position.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
emgee, in your thread on this topic in the 80-86 forum you insisted that the hole had threads. Now it doesn't?
It is very common on old parts like this for the threads to pull out with the bolt. In the other forum you said a 3/8 bolt was too small, 7/16 was too big. You will probably have to drill and tap it to 7/16, or else helicoil it back to 3/8.
It is very common on old parts like this for the threads to pull out with the bolt. In the other forum you said a 3/8 bolt was too small, 7/16 was too big. You will probably have to drill and tap it to 7/16, or else helicoil it back to 3/8.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 666
Likes: 5
Before you go out and buy a 3/8" helicoil set, check the hole. The tap drill size for a 3/8-16 helicoil is a letter X drill (0.3970"). If an X drill is a loose fit in the hole, you will need to go up another size. If you don't have a set of letter drills, the next fractional size is 13/32 (0.4063"). You should not be able to get a 13/32 into the hole at all if you have any hope of using a 3/8 helicoil.
