 ss3964spd
"6th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 4699
Loc: Fairfax, Va
Reg: 12-21-00
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09-07-24 02:19 PM - Post#2873561
In response to toro455
Scott, I don't know why they moved it from the WP to the compressor on A/C cars. Maybe access, or maybe to ensure the compressor clutch has a robust ground path.
At first thought grounding to the WP bolt/stud seems like a bad idea. All 4 WP bolts/studs need sealer on the threads, and the pump is insulated from the block by the WP gaskets. The thread sealer and gaskets wouldn't provide a very good ground path.
But the ALT bracket also bolts to the intake manifold, the top of the ALT bolts to the bracket, and the bottom of the ALT bolts to the cast iron bracket which is bolted to the cylinder head.
The ground for mine is on the right side of the WP, upper hole, on a stud.
I still think the stud in the second picture is too long. The one in the first picture looks correct. The ALT bracket is stamped steel, and not more than 1/8" thick - probably a little less.
Dan
If I recall correctly my memory is excellent. My ability to access it is not. |
Edited by ss3964spd on 09-07-24 02:19 PM. Reason for edit: No reason given.
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 toro455
"9th Year" Gold Supporting Member
Posts: 1392
Loc: Western NY
Reg: 06-15-02
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09-07-24 05:10 PM - Post#2873565
In response to ss3964spd
Thanks again Dan. As soon as I took a look at the actual layout I realized that the ground, if it were to go to a WP position on the RH side, almost certainly used the top bolt. Thanks for confirming.
The reason I thought it was strange because, if I interpreted what they did correctly with the AC compressor bracket, it's basically an indirect ground. I mean it needs to go through 2 fasteners to get to the block. With the WP location, regardless of sealers or dipped bolts, there will be places where the bolt threads are solidly metal-to-metal with the block.
As I was going through my front brackets I also saw a double ended factory original stud which I placed in a zip-lock bag. It's too short though for any of the WP positions though. The flange on the alternator side was 31.6mm thick and the bolt which was in it, aftermarket, protruded past the flange by just over 15mm.
I also figured out why using studs in the intake is difficult with a BBC in certain places... including one location I need to use for the AC bracket. The BBC intake is narrow and so the stud points right at the raised area for the carb. I'm using the Holley style OE intake. I could have made the top of the stud shorter but I don't think that would have been enough anyway. I made it, by a stroke of luck, short enough to get the AC bracket over. I'll need to use a crows foot on the torque wrench to tighten it because there's no way to get a deep socket on it. I think I was even forced to use a short socket to remove the bolt. And then I needed to move the TB off the mount so an extension could pass the raised area. I did it quickly but it seems I didn't have quite enough room for even a ratchet on a short socket. The extension, because it was small diameter, just missed the raised area.
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