I went and put side mounts on the small block in my 55 Nomad. The engine moved forward so I have to replace the long water pump with a short one. My radiator is a cross flow mounted on the inside of the core support like a stock V-8. I cannot move it to the front as the core support has been altered and the cross flow is wider than the original upright radiator. How can I mount the alternator? What brackets do I need? They make pieces, just not sure what to use.
What type of heads do you have? That may matter Low mount units keep the alt out of the way, and typically use a short belt. Speedway sells this one for $40
A similar setup on my big block made sense. It hides the modern part and stopped the belt from twisting at high rpm. Be sure you have room for the unit!
Use the LH Ramshorn off a 65 Chevy [Impala] and all the alternator brackets [+ short waterpump and pulleys] This will put the alternator in the stock location of the original generator. With side mounts ,this will leave the lower mount holes available for a power steering pump "if needed" [also off a 65 Chevy] Be careful moving the engine too far forward, there can be oilpan to steering clearance issues when turning full lock. Personally it would be easier to leave the engine in stock location and use a small-cap HEI with remote coil. [and cheaper]
If you have headers on your engine and your heads do have the acc holes in em you can use 67-72 chevy truck alternator brackets , bolts to front of left side head.
Ditto on kerrynzl and bobss396 one more suggestion, if you are running headers they make a bracket that bolts to the front header bolts and then you bold your alt. brkt. to that and it mounts just like pictured above. I have same situation as you and have done that. Pat
One stop shopping. Just about everyone sells these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/SBC-Black-SWP-Alternator-Bracket-Set-w-Hardware-Header-Short-Water-Pump-327-350-/132047771947?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10
Mine like this has been on mine for just about as long. Kinda makes for a long belt tho but it works with headers. The adjustability is good to have too. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
Have the same one on wife's 55 since the early 80's. Her car has headers as well. Only thing we did was weld two of the long arms together as they seemed to flex at high rpms at the drags and throw a belt now and then--never did it again with the arms doubled up. I think I still have another set around here somewhere
The factory Chevy arms were doubled up. I tried to use mine, but needed to crank the alternator out to clear the tall valve cover. Belt is 55" long, stock one is around 53".
The Jalopy Journal
