Different sized alternator cases?

deesandvees · #1 08-05-2008, 02:52 AM

I need to replace my alternator in my '87. The block and serpentine setup in this thing I was told was out of a '93 Suburban. I ordered a new alternator from Summit and it's a different size than my alternator I'm replacing. So the problem is it won't fit in the bracket. I want this larger case size alternator because I want a higher amperage and the small case one's I've seen are about double the price of the larger case ones. Maybe I should be asking in the Suburban thread I'm not sure, but I think what I need to get is a new bracket (alternator/power steering pump bracket) that is for the larger case alternator. Anybody have input on this?

PeteA216 · #2 08-05-2008, 10:06 AM

Correct, you'd have to get a different bracket if you wanted to go with an altenator that is physically larger.

deesandvees · #3 08-06-2008, 12:13 AM

Went to the junkyard today looking for a bracket in the early 90's trucks and suburbans to no avail. I'm having a hard time finding one online too because I don't know what it is exactly that I need to specify.

silicon212 · #4 08-06-2008, 12:54 AM

The bracket for the small case will use 2 alternator attachment bolts that are 120 degrees apart, a third of a circle while the large case has two bolts that are 180 degrees or a half circle.

deesandvees · #5 08-06-2008, 02:08 AM

Thanks Silicon, I see that on the new alternator I've got, just a matter of finding out what year's and what vehicle's had what I need. Do you know when everything switched over to serpentine?

deesandvees · #6 08-06-2008, 02:20 AM

This is what I'm finding online, these both look the same to me but are listed with different part numbers, both of which don't come up with anything when I search them at gmpartsdirect.com

Can't tell much from this photo (part#1111701):

or this one which appears to be the smaller alternator bracket (part #10118701):

silicon212 · #7 08-06-2008, 02:46 AM

A bracket from an '89-'93 9C1 type car should work.

deesandvees · #8 08-06-2008, 03:50 AM

Ooh there was a '92 9C1 there, I'll go back and check it out this weekend.

PeteA216 · #9 08-06-2008, 11:55 AM

If no luck there, you should, if I'm not mistaken, find the larger altenator bracket on a 1990 - 1994 full size, heavy duty Chevy/GMC pickup. I got my serpentine belt assembly from a 1992 Chevy Silverado 2500 w/AC & w/o A.I.R. I just looked at it, and it appears to have the larger altenator. Lol, I got the whole belt assy over the winter and I still have yet to install it onto the Caprice.

deesandvees · #10 08-08-2008, 01:46 AM

I pulled the bracket out of this '92 (not 100% sure) Caprice today. It's definately the large size alternator bracket but when I got it home and sized my Summit alternator up to it it was about a half inch too big. I think the problem is I got the wrong alternator from Summit. I'm gunna call them tomorrow and try to get the right thing on the way. Hopefully this bracket will bolt up to my motor, I'm crossing my fingers since it seems "it's always something". I also grabbed the waterneck and upper radiator hose and the extra long power steering hardlines (must be for cooling purposes?).

One thing that sent me back home in the middle of the job was the torx head bolts they use on the brackets. The only reason I have a torx set is for seatbelts so I didn't even think to bring it to the yard.

This Caprice didn't had single exaust and didn't have an LT1 in it. It had the code GU6 in the trunk and I could tell it had at one time had the push bar on the front bumper. Does that narrow down the year this car was?

CD Smalley · #11 08-08-2008, 07:13 AM

Fender skirts or not?

deesandvees · #12 08-12-2008, 03:46 AM

Confirmed it's a '92 (yes it's got the fender skirts). They've got a '94 there too but it's been gone through pretty good. What does the GU6 code mean for 92? The fan shroud label says 5.7. But if I remember right this '92 had single exhaust. Would this car have posi? It's rear drum brakes, what year did the Caprice's get rear discs? Is there a site I can reference all this info?

silicon212 · #13 08-12-2008, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deesandvees

Confirmed it's a '92 (yes it's got the fender skirts). They've got a '94 there too but it's been gone through pretty good. What does the GU6 code mean for 92? The fan shroud label says 5.7. But if I remember right this '92 had single exhaust. Would this car have posi? It's rear drum brakes, what year did the Caprice's get rear discs? Is there a site I can reference all this info?

'94-'96 LT1 9C1 cars had discs, everything else drums. It's posi if you see a G80 code on the SPID label. GU6 is 3.42:1 ratio gears.

deesandvees · #14 08-12-2008, 02:15 PM

Other than the battery wire and the ground wire, is there just the one brown wire that's supposed to go to the alternator? Does that mean this is a "1 wire alternator"? And so that is the "exciter", what does that do? The alternator I'm replacing is from who knows where (maybe a '93 Suburban) and it's got a plug with a brown wire and a pink wire coming out of it. I spliced the brown wire in to the brown wire I've got but what is the pink wire for? It's not hooked up and everything works fine.

I think I'm gunna end up ordering a PowerMaster but their about a $100 more than the Summit alternators. Problem is Summit doesn't have the correct case size that all the brackets I've been looking towards works with. I guess that's the price I have to pay to have the newer serpentine brackets on this block.

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