flathead alt conversion belt help
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
Flathead Ford Generator - Alternator Conversion Bracket : eBay Motors (item 250419408849 end time Mar-01-10 12:05:24 PST)
here's a link to the different types I did not buy this bracket I think I only paid $40+ ship
this one with no pics
Ford Flathead 1933-53 Alternator Conversion : eBay Motors (item 310196983200 end time Feb-02-10 12:34:48 PST)
also the trouble with installing it was all my fault. The bracket was fine and a regular 5/8" belt should work. I could not get the belt over the pulley. once I tipped the bracket forward evrything went together.
here's a link to the different types I did not buy this bracket I think I only paid $40+ ship
this one with no pics
Ford Flathead 1933-53 Alternator Conversion : eBay Motors (item 310196983200 end time Feb-02-10 12:34:48 PST)
also the trouble with installing it was all my fault. The bracket was fine and a regular 5/8" belt should work. I could not get the belt over the pulley. once I tipped the bracket forward evrything went together.
..:: Certified Auto Electric - Products ::..
If you check their site, they have several different brackets as well as the pulleys.
I am seriously considering buying the whole set up from them, has anyone here dealt with Certified Auto Electric before?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
I did, but as I said, my setup is a hybrid. Their price is hard to beat and I wanted a turnkey setup. (in fact I think the price is lower now than when I bought 6 yrs ago)
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
So you would recommend them?
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Evans,GA
Answer to alt. conversion bracket fit
Well I email four co.s that offer the slingshot alt. conversion bracket and got two responses so far. Heres the one that made sense:
> Hello,
> I am wondering if the brackets you offer are made to fit the 1952 Ford F-1 half ton pick-up with the 239 flathead V-8. I have viewed these brackets from several sources and some warn that they are for use on pasenger cars and not for use on wide belt trucks. One site also mentions long shaft water pumps being a problem. I believe that the belts and pulleys on the passenger cars were 3/8's and the ones on the trucks are 5/8's. Not a whole lot of difference, but maybe you guys know about this for sure? Any info will be much appreciated.
>
From certified auto electric:
Our 1949-53 brackets will fit your truck. As for pulley size cars changed from 9/16" wide belts in 1950 and trucks were late 1951 into 1952. The tall water pumps were used on all Ford cars, trucks and Mercury engines starting in 1949. Prior to this they used short pumps. Looking at the generator mounting. 1949 and newer the generator sits in a saddle mount. 1948 and older the mount is part of the housing
>
>
> Hello,
> I am wondering if the brackets you offer are made to fit the 1952 Ford F-1 half ton pick-up with the 239 flathead V-8. I have viewed these brackets from several sources and some warn that they are for use on pasenger cars and not for use on wide belt trucks. One site also mentions long shaft water pumps being a problem. I believe that the belts and pulleys on the passenger cars were 3/8's and the ones on the trucks are 5/8's. Not a whole lot of difference, but maybe you guys know about this for sure? Any info will be much appreciated.
>
From certified auto electric:
Our 1949-53 brackets will fit your truck. As for pulley size cars changed from 9/16" wide belts in 1950 and trucks were late 1951 into 1952. The tall water pumps were used on all Ford cars, trucks and Mercury engines starting in 1949. Prior to this they used short pumps. Looking at the generator mounting. 1949 and newer the generator sits in a saddle mount. 1948 and older the mount is part of the housing
>
>
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Evans,GA
And now the rest of the story or at least some more of it.
Well, since none of the other co.'s ever contacted me via e-mail, I called them on the phone. The "flathead tech" at speedway assured me that their note about wide belts was refering to the Ford truck. He said that the designer had made the bracket for the more narrow belt car engines not knowing there was a difference.
So, I called Certified Auto Electric and spoke to one of the owners. He repeated the info from the email (earlier post) and said he thought their brackets were different. He was not sure so he suggested we measure. I measured from the Gen. bracket (front) to the center of the pulley and got about 2.5 inches. He measured from the slingshot (front) to the center of an alt. pulley and got about 2.75 inches. We were both fumbling and maybe off, but thats a quarter inch difference and the same difference between 3/8's and 5/8's (the difference between the car and truck belts). Back to the drawing board.
M Joiner
Update: Just for future reference the correct numbers are: Gen. bracket (front) to center of orig. pulley is 2 7/16.
So, I called Certified Auto Electric and spoke to one of the owners. He repeated the info from the email (earlier post) and said he thought their brackets were different. He was not sure so he suggested we measure. I measured from the Gen. bracket (front) to the center of the pulley and got about 2.5 inches. He measured from the slingshot (front) to the center of an alt. pulley and got about 2.75 inches. We were both fumbling and maybe off, but thats a quarter inch difference and the same difference between 3/8's and 5/8's (the difference between the car and truck belts). Back to the drawing board.
M Joiner
Update: Just for future reference the correct numbers are: Gen. bracket (front) to center of orig. pulley is 2 7/16.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
Well, since none of the other co.'s ever contacted me via e-mail, I called them on the phone. The "flathead tech" at speedway assured me that their note about wide belts was refering to the Ford truck. He said that the designer had made the bracket for the more narrow belt car engines not knowing there was a difference.
So, I called Certified Auto Electric and spoke to one of the owners. He repeated the info from the email (earlier post) and said he thought their brackets were different. He was not sure so he suggested we measure. I measured from the Gen. bracket (front) to the center of the pulley and got about 2.5 inches. He measured from the slingshot (front) to the center of an alt. pulley and got about 2.75 inches. We were both fumbling and maybe off, but thats a quarter inch difference and the same difference between 3/8's and 5/8's (the difference between the car and truck belts). Back to the drawing board.
M Joiner
So, I called Certified Auto Electric and spoke to one of the owners. He repeated the info from the email (earlier post) and said he thought their brackets were different. He was not sure so he suggested we measure. I measured from the Gen. bracket (front) to the center of the pulley and got about 2.5 inches. He measured from the slingshot (front) to the center of an alt. pulley and got about 2.75 inches. We were both fumbling and maybe off, but thats a quarter inch difference and the same difference between 3/8's and 5/8's (the difference between the car and truck belts). Back to the drawing board.
M Joiner
I have not seen one of the slingshots myself, but looking at the pictures on the website, they look thinner than my generator bracket.
Another point is that in their photo on eBay it appears that they use spacers to mount the alternator to the slingshot and you could probably cut a 1/4" off the spacers if needed.
1949-53 Ford Flathead Alternator for 3 Stromberg 97's : eBay Motors (item 310197378061 end time Feb-04-10 12:42:28 PST)
Oh, one more thing, you are aware that the generator has two mounting positions right?
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Brett Foote
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Harley's right, the correct measurement would be from the back of the bracket; that is, the front surface of the intake manifold in the "slot". On mine, with narrow belts, "X" = 3.5". (This is looking down on the bracket from the top) PS, mine has 1-3/8" long spacers like shown on the ad. Y think you would want to make them longer, not shorter, for wide belts?
One thing never discussed is that these really need a brace back to the manifold IMO.
One thing never discussed is that these really need a brace back to the manifold IMO.
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Evans,GA
According to CAE, his bracket base is 7/8 inches thick and thats the same as my gen bracket. And cutting off the spacer is what the other sites (that mentioned the problem in the 1st place) recommend that truck owners do. But, then you also have to cut down the other side of your alt. (which is thicker to match).- See pasted/copy quotes from said co.'s in previous post.
As far as moving it out for wider belts, it is kind of hard to get your brain wrapped around. But, if you think about the bracket being designed for the more narrow belt car, which would put the center of the new alt. pulley(3/8) where the center of the original gen. pulley was... and then think of using that same bracket/alt. setup, but with a wider pulley (5/8).... everything is the same except the center of the wider pulley will now be farther out to the front of the truck. In other words the backs of either pulley would have the same position from the engine side, but the wider pulley (and therefore its center) would be out farther to the front.
I have my gen. off the truck, but I may put it back on and compare to Ross's numbers. Also may start a new thread to see if anybody else has used one of these brackets.
Whats the other mounting position?
M Joiner
As far as moving it out for wider belts, it is kind of hard to get your brain wrapped around. But, if you think about the bracket being designed for the more narrow belt car, which would put the center of the new alt. pulley(3/8) where the center of the original gen. pulley was... and then think of using that same bracket/alt. setup, but with a wider pulley (5/8).... everything is the same except the center of the wider pulley will now be farther out to the front of the truck. In other words the backs of either pulley would have the same position from the engine side, but the wider pulley (and therefore its center) would be out farther to the front.
I have my gen. off the truck, but I may put it back on and compare to Ross's numbers. Also may start a new thread to see if anybody else has used one of these brackets.
Whats the other mounting position?
M Joiner
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,636
Likes: 11
From: Crossville, Tn
According to CAE, his bracket base is 7/8 inches thick and thats the same as my gen bracket. And cutting off the spacer is what the other sites (that mentioned the problem in the 1st place) recommend that truck owners do. But, then you also have to cut down the other side of your alt. (which is thicker to match).- See pasted/copy quotes from said co.'s in previous post.
As far as moving it out for wider belts, it is kind of hard to get your brain wrapped around. But, if you think about the bracket being designed for the more narrow belt car, which would put the center of the new alt. pulley(3/8) where the center of the original gen. pulley was... and then think of using that same bracket/alt. setup, but with a wider pulley (5/8).... everything is the same except the center of the wider pulley will now be farther out to the front of the truck. In other words the backs of either pulley would have the same position from the engine side, but the wider pulley (and therefore its center) would be out farther to the front.
I have my gen. off the truck, but I may put it back on and compare to Ross's numbers. Also may start a new thread to see if anybody else has used one of these brackets.
Whats the other mounting position?
M Joiner
As far as moving it out for wider belts, it is kind of hard to get your brain wrapped around. But, if you think about the bracket being designed for the more narrow belt car, which would put the center of the new alt. pulley(3/8) where the center of the original gen. pulley was... and then think of using that same bracket/alt. setup, but with a wider pulley (5/8).... everything is the same except the center of the wider pulley will now be farther out to the front of the truck. In other words the backs of either pulley would have the same position from the engine side, but the wider pulley (and therefore its center) would be out farther to the front.
I have my gen. off the truck, but I may put it back on and compare to Ross's numbers. Also may start a new thread to see if anybody else has used one of these brackets.
Whats the other mounting position?
M Joiner
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Evans,GA
Very interesting. I only saw one, but I wasn't really looking for it. I wonder if it had something to do with belt sizes on different applications? I just got in contact with the only other person I can find that used one of these brackets and he has sold the truck but still has pics. Looks like his was working but I don't know where he got the bracket except Ebay a long time ago. I've asked if he can remember any more details.
Mitch J
Mitch J
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Evans,GA
What bracket?
Pete,
I was reading post looking for alt. conversion bracket info. Did you use the slingshot, or wishbone type? I've been told that some won't work with the wider belts (5/8's) without trimming the alt. and supplied spacer. Any info much app.
Thanks
M Joiner
I was reading post looking for alt. conversion bracket info. Did you use the slingshot, or wishbone type? I've been told that some won't work with the wider belts (5/8's) without trimming the alt. and supplied spacer. Any info much app.
Thanks
M Joiner
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,299
Likes: 1,059
From: NM
Is that a 6v or 12v gen? Later gens had holes for Y-blocks and for that matter, people used to drill hole in gens that didn't have them. I've never seen more than one hole on a flathead (6v) gen. Could 6-cylinder gens have a different hole position? I've no idea how they even mounted.