Belt tensioner question

[Flyman 27]

I used a couple 16mm machine spacers I got at Ace hardware.

[Corvette95]

So just finished getting old alternator off. It seems the spacer is built into the pulley, it is a hair thin at 3mm. The diameter of the pulley is 60 mm. I am going to pick up the new alternator. Should I remove the pulley and check for a spacer if the pulley dimensions are correct? TIA

[A26B]

Some correct pulleys will have the Front Collar 0.396" spacer made integral with the pulley, so verify what you have. before adding the 0.396" spacer.

Make sure the Back Collar 0.232" spacer is behind the fan. Without it, tightening the bolt will warp the fan & the pulley will slip. Some have not noticed the Back Collar as being removable when changing their stock LT5 pulley over to a new alternator with a smaller pulley. The nut will tighten but the pulley force against the fan will warp the fan blade until it rubs the alternator. Bending the blades only adds to the problem of the missing Back Collar.

[Corvette95]

Thanks again Jerry. I looked on your site and found the pulley info, obviously I looked in wrong place for the spacer info. I also saw you were out of alternators, you show one pulley in stock but no option to put it in my cart....do you have one before I order the Summit pulley? On ANOTHER NOTE, I did special order supposedly a correct alternator overnight from Oreilly's. Just went to pick it up with digital micrometer in hand....they FORGOT to order it, now it will be Tuesday. If you have either the pulley or a whole alternator Jerry, I would certainly order it from you. Let me know, you have my email and # . Thanks!

[Corvette95]

The inner spacer was intact and correct size on the old alternator, the pulley although had no spacer but was offset made into the pulley 3.02 mm. After disassembly I could see light strike marks ) from the fan blades to the fan blade cover (that this particular alternator had).

[Corvette95]

Originally Posted by secondchance

Corvette95. Have you replaced alternator lately? If so, verify if the alternator pulley is correct size. Often, L98 pulley is on replacement. If so, belt ends up being a tad longer and could result in tensioner bouncing around.

Just to follow up on your post, not only was the pulley undersized, spacer dimensions were wrong, causing faint contact intermittently with the fan blades to alternator. The car was nice, low mileage when I bought it but the owner was not a wrencher. I a lot of things were not right on the car, I HAD to save it. I am very very compentent in C4's mainly electrical and driveability, Never had much mechanical done to my 95 Lt5, what little was done was at Sought Georgia corvette, so I am in a heavy learning curve, not in the systems designs but the little nuonces of the LT5 such as this alternator spacer. I need to do this with my hands, only way to learn, but it is a back killer and ever worse when you complete a system only to take it back down again for a small rubbing noise..aka alternator spacer issues. Thanks to all that have helped, I know I have asked for a lot but please remember, I bought this car, drove it less than ten miles home a took out every major system in the car to fix botched previous work and to perform an NCRS quality restoration- a lot to take on. I rely on the group to help and you have, and I will have more to come but I did get it running fine other than a few tensioner and alternator noise after full top end port, hoses, thermostat housing, oil filter adapter, heater core, steering column, all new brakes, brake booster, secondary rebuilt, fuel pump-both..and on and on, interior is dead empty, no seats, dash, carpet, gauges etc. This is all at one time. Getting this engine completely, install steering wheel, bleed all new brakes and I will be able to move it to paint shop , after that rebuild continues. Pics to follow but I promide it to be showroom new. Spend two weeks with a toothbrush detailing under carriage. Hot tired and frustrated today but I am saying a low mileage 90 from death for a full future ahead....using NOS whenever is possible as well.

[A26B]

Originally Posted by Corvette95

Thanks again Jerry. I looked on your site and found the pulley info, obviously I looked in wrong place for the spacer info. I also saw you were out of alternators, you show one pulley in stock but no option to put it in my cart....do you have one before I order the Summit pulley? On ANOTHER NOTE, I did special order supposedly a correct alternator overnight from Oreilly's. Just went to pick it up with digital micrometer in hand....they FORGOT to order it, now it will be Tuesday. If you have either the pulley or a whole alternator Jerry, I would certainly order it from you. Let me know, you have my email and # . Thanks!

No, you didn't look in the wrong place. I had to pull it up from my files and put it in Jerrys Gaskets/my photos. Sort of like my own personal photobucket to host them.

I don't have pulleys & spacers in stock or for sale.

We are out of Alternators and do not plan to re-stock since REMY sold out and the company has changed hands a couple of times.

Likewise for Starters. I think I have 1 or 2 left in stock & when those are gone, we will not be re-stocking.

They are available from other sources as you are finding out and the pulley can be swapped over from the original LT5 Alternator (in most cases) I do have new LT5 Alternator Pulleys on my list of parts to make, but not anytime soon.

I have accumulated quite a few cores of different parts with possible plans to rebuild them myself, but like so many other project, I really don't have the time or the stamina. Getting old has slowed me down on work, but not on speed!

[Dynomite]

Another Alternative for Alternator Pulleys

Post 250 - All Aluminum Alternator Pulley

[secondchance]

Originally Posted by Dynomite

Another Alternative for Alternator Pulleys

Post 250 - All Aluminum Alternator Pulley

I?m running this aluminum pulley. Looks very pretty mated to billet aluminum, high output alternator.

[Corvette95]

Thanks that is what I ordered. I figure the new alternator will have wrong pulley.