Lee Willis
03-15-2006, 08:01 PM
Has anyone else had this problem, stock or modified?
Attached picture shows the alternator bracket that was just replaced on my 'vette. I'm pointing to where the post/mount that held the idler pulley sheered off. What used to be at this spot was a post that came out about 2 inches to hold the idler pulley.
This was the stock bracket that came with the car, carried over when I put in the C5R engine: same place holding the same equipment.
Of course, it was under a bit more stress because with the SC on the car the belt is tensioned a bit more and the idler was under a bit more side thrust. This broke within 15 miles (all gentle street driving) after that 13.8 second 0-150 run I posted a while back. I think that the stress of that run cracked it and it came apart a few miles and minutes later. Fortunately, it sheered off with no damage to the engine, just as I was pulling in to the Ford dealership where my son is service manager: so I left it there and his people did the work this week.
However, the point I wanted to make was that the replacement bracket, from Chevy, was a stock 04 bracket and it had much heavier casting around the point where this sheered Sorry I don't have a picture of the new one, but I didn't actually see it, my son and the mechanic who did the work explained it to me. They said it was obvious that someone had re-designed the bracket between late '01, when my car was assembled, and whenever the replacement bracket was made, adding a lot of strength right where this one broke.
It is a rare situation where a manufacturer puts metal into a production piece, increasing its cost even if just a couple of pennies. It indicates this must have been a problem.
Has anyone else had this problem, stock or modified?
local://upfiles/428/5327A14E0CFF4C609F656D764C3CB586.jpg
Attached picture shows the alternator bracket that was just replaced on my 'vette. I'm pointing to where the post/mount that held the idler pulley sheered off. What used to be at this spot was a post that came out about 2 inches to hold the idler pulley.
This was the stock bracket that came with the car, carried over when I put in the C5R engine: same place holding the same equipment.
Of course, it was under a bit more stress because with the SC on the car the belt is tensioned a bit more and the idler was under a bit more side thrust. This broke within 15 miles (all gentle street driving) after that 13.8 second 0-150 run I posted a while back. I think that the stress of that run cracked it and it came apart a few miles and minutes later. Fortunately, it sheered off with no damage to the engine, just as I was pulling in to the Ford dealership where my son is service manager: so I left it there and his people did the work this week.
However, the point I wanted to make was that the replacement bracket, from Chevy, was a stock 04 bracket and it had much heavier casting around the point where this sheered Sorry I don't have a picture of the new one, but I didn't actually see it, my son and the mechanic who did the work explained it to me. They said it was obvious that someone had re-designed the bracket between late '01, when my car was assembled, and whenever the replacement bracket was made, adding a lot of strength right where this one broke.
It is a rare situation where a manufacturer puts metal into a production piece, increasing its cost even if just a couple of pennies. It indicates this must have been a problem.
Has anyone else had this problem, stock or modified?
local://upfiles/428/5327A14E0CFF4C609F656D764C3CB586.jpg