So I got my 85's aluminum alternator support bracket refinished, and while that's all cool and everything, I recall specifically when I removed it, it did NOT have the little split tapered spacer on the rear ear. This spacer basically tightens up slightly which helps clamp the upper pivot of the alternator when properly installed, and allows you to slip the alternator in and out when the bolt is removed. Without it, it still works, but there's no additional clamping force on the top side. The alternator has NEVER been removed from the car until now, when I tore it down for refurbishing. Only loosened to change belts. Anyway...
From that ultra low-mile 84 H/O...oh look! No spacer.
From a low mile 85 442 (without cruise control- who does that?). No spacer.
Another 84 H/O. WITH spacer. It's not low mileage, and the alternator fan is all black and A.I.R. hoses have worm clamps, so it's had some work. But it appears like the bracket wasn't swapped. It's not easy to do as it may look. Never know though.
This is mine during removal before I took it out. No spacer.
Here's that 3K mile 85 442. Hmmm. Has a spacer.
Here's a 3K mile 1986 car. No spacer...hmmm.
And one from a low-mile 86 Supreme with 307. No spacer.
A single family owned 84 with 67K miles. No spacer.
This is from a low mile 87 442. My 87 442 also has the spacer. So did both my NOS support brackets. Interestingly, my 84 H/O now has one because I put on a then-new and still available bracket when I redid the engine. I don't recall the old one. I might still have it but then again...
It is my summation that the spacer was hit or miss. That 3K mile car was built in March 85, which came after mine. I know for sure I haven't had my alternator completely off before. And the way it looks, when it's tightened, that spacer locks in and isn't going anywhere unless you tap it out after taking off the alternator. I can't say this for sure, just a speculation of the limited evidence. But so far, everything points to a "sometimes they put one in, and sometimes they randomly left it out". But if you bought a new bracket later from the parts department, it would come with a spacer installed already. That part I know.
As a side note, this very 86 442 with 3k miles on it has a beaded lid and a 622 compressor. Hmmm. That's weird. I know in early 86 they came with beaded air cleaner lids and 198 compressors and later went with 622 compressors and flat top lids. They must've went to the 622s ealier than they did the flat lids. Unless this one had work done, but I doubt it.
From that ultra low-mile 84 H/O...oh look! No spacer.
From a low mile 85 442 (without cruise control- who does that?). No spacer.
Another 84 H/O. WITH spacer. It's not low mileage, and the alternator fan is all black and A.I.R. hoses have worm clamps, so it's had some work. But it appears like the bracket wasn't swapped. It's not easy to do as it may look. Never know though.
This is mine during removal before I took it out. No spacer.
Here's that 3K mile 85 442. Hmmm. Has a spacer.
Here's a 3K mile 1986 car. No spacer...hmmm.
And one from a low-mile 86 Supreme with 307. No spacer.
A single family owned 84 with 67K miles. No spacer.
This is from a low mile 87 442. My 87 442 also has the spacer. So did both my NOS support brackets. Interestingly, my 84 H/O now has one because I put on a then-new and still available bracket when I redid the engine. I don't recall the old one. I might still have it but then again...
It is my summation that the spacer was hit or miss. That 3K mile car was built in March 85, which came after mine. I know for sure I haven't had my alternator completely off before. And the way it looks, when it's tightened, that spacer locks in and isn't going anywhere unless you tap it out after taking off the alternator. I can't say this for sure, just a speculation of the limited evidence. But so far, everything points to a "sometimes they put one in, and sometimes they randomly left it out". But if you bought a new bracket later from the parts department, it would come with a spacer installed already. That part I know.
As a side note, this very 86 442 with 3k miles on it has a beaded lid and a 622 compressor. Hmmm. That's weird. I know in early 86 they came with beaded air cleaner lids and 198 compressors and later went with 622 compressors and flat top lids. They must've went to the 622s ealier than they did the flat lids. Unless this one had work done, but I doubt it.
