FYI ->9C1 alternator bracket differences

[1968 Pontiac]

Since last summer I've had the following 124amp 9C1 alternator installed on my car in lieu of the standard civvie CS130 (small) alternator:



This is installed using CS144 alternator adapter brackets found on ~1990-93 police and taxi Caprices. I've also seen the 124 amp alternator on Cadillacs of that era, but haven't seen one yet on a Buick. Although the picture is a little skewed, if you look at the 6:00 o'clock and 9:00 o'clock positions you'll see the CS130 attachment locations, but in lieu of the CS130 alternator, attached to that are the CS144 adapter brackets, with the big alternator attached at the 5:00 o'clock and 11:00 o'clock postions.

Last weekend I had a spare few minutes, so I thought I would install that nice shiny almost brand new 140 amp alternator I removed from a 94 caprice at the wrecker a few weeks ago. My Bosch alternator book tells me that 94-96 (i.e. LT1 engines) 140 amp alternators were available in 93 as were the 124 amp alternator. With a little bit of reverse interchange philosophy, that means the 140 amp must fit my car now that I have a 124 amp installed. Well, I put in the bottom bolt finger tight, slid the alternator over to install the top bolt, and hey, what's this, the hole is about a 1/2" away from the hole in the bracket. Looked for something to be in the way, but that wasn't the problem. I found out the 140 amp alternators have larger housings. What to do now. There was only one solution: go to the wrecker. There was a 91 9C1 and a 93 9C1 in the yard last week, and I remember glancing at them to see if the alternators were any good. I noticed the 93 had a one pc alternator/power steering bracket instead of the usual adapters. I didn't think much of it at the time as I hadn't tried to install the 140 amp alternator until the following day, nor did I have my power steering pump pulley puller with me. Yesterday I came prepared and grabbed the bracket. See the following picture:



So if you want to use the even larger 140 amp alternators, don't make the same mistake I did, find this bracket first.