alternator clearance issues?

[rjewkes]

Well the clearance does seem to matter as it sits the larger alt out of an 88 f-series 100 amp alt sits cockeyed with the current adjusting hold down arm holding it against the block the belt runs kinda twisted and i have too many washers on it now.
is there a longer arm available or will i have to have one fabbed? i only need about 2-3 inches and a belt long enough to match, yet short enough to tighten up all the way.

[fordman]

i have a 351m in the garage. it has some of that angle iron with the holes predrilled in it to hold the alternator on in place of the arm. its that light wieght stuff you can get in the hardware stores.

[rjewkes]

I have to try something shimmed enough to clear te block it is lose and angled towards the engine with maybe 4 threads holding the lower bolt in. so it bobs and weaves at speed. and i get the horrable shake and screach of bolt and pullig having issues. and the 46 1/3 or 3/8 what ever 17463 means is too long so it is kinda loose. if i had just took the cougar to get seatbelts fixed ispected and reged in time i'd drive it mostly. if i had known that the alt from the 88 was a little too long i'd have not done the swap and lived with the 60 amp alt. or 55 or whatever stock is.

[fordman]

here are a picture of the 351m alternator and how this guy rigged it up to fit. maybe you could do something similar. that way it wouldnt be near the head.

[fordman]

another way to do this is to use a factory ac alternator bracket. i think. that wil mount the alternator low also. instead of high. thee is one on ebay right now but the shipping is too high for the size and weight of the part.