Alternator bracket: 1964 valiant with ac, 273

[Korys_thing]

Found a belt broken, went to replace and tighten. Couldn’t get the alternator to stay put…took the girlfriend to tell me “duh, your alternator adjustment bracket is broken”

A lot of threads and replacements available but can’t seem to find anything talking about the “with AC” cars and what the difference might be. Seems to be a belt alignment concern? Maybe something to do with the bolt sizing.

Question: replacements that look similar all seem to be for big block engines or small blocks with no AC. Would these fit if I am just looking to use the adjuster bar and not the triangle? Whats the difference between “without AC” and with?

The “universal” options all seem to be straight and don’t seem like they would fit.

Just trying to get her back on the road before I find the next fix. Feels like my set up is falling through the cracks compatibility wise.

 

[Vaanth]

Found a belt broken, went to replace and tighten. Couldn’t get the alternator to stay put…took the girlfriend to tell me “duh, your alternator adjustment bracket is broken”

A lot of threads and replacements available but can’t seem to find anything talking about the “with AC” cars and what the difference might be. Seems to be a belt alignment concern? Maybe something to do with the bolt sizing.

Question: replacements that look similar all seem to be for big block engines or small blocks with no AC. Would these fit if I am just looking to use the adjuster bar and not the triangle? Whats the difference between “without AC” and with?

The “universal” options all seem to be straight and don’t seem like they would fit.

Just trying to get her back on the road before I find the next fix. Feels like my set up is falling through the cracks compatibility wise.

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Your 1964 273 has an add-on York air conditioning compressor, likely part of a dealer add-on system. The front idler pulley is part of the system, but the alternator brackets are still non-air conditioner parts, including the broken slotted adjustment strap.

 

[Professor Fate]

Take the adjusting bracket off, take both pieces to a welding shop and have them welded back together. Reinstall. Done.
This way you know what you have, that it fits, and will work. And it will last another 60 years.

 

[cudamark]

Also, keep in mind that removing the bolt holding that adjustment strap allows coolant to pour out, so, keep a drain pan there handy, or drain the coolant system first. If you're quick you can sometimes pull the bolt, remove the strap, and re-install the bolt without losing much coolant. I'd also inspect the base alternator bracket too in case something is loose or broken there too which may have contributed to the strap failure.

 

[Mattax]

Could weld it. If the threads of the bolt have enough length to bite could also reinforce the strap.

 

[Korys_thing]

Good ideas, thanks everyone. Cleared up some of the non-ac stuff I was seeing. Checked out a welding shop today but they wanted more than I should pay for a strap, going to try and find some folks at work and pay them in burritos and beer.

Also, keep in mind that removing the bolt holding that adjustment strap allows coolant to pour out, so, keep a drain pan there handy, or drain the coolant system first. If you're quick you can sometimes pull the bolt, remove the strap, and re-install the bolt without losing much coolant. I'd also inspect the base alternator bracket too in case something is loose or broken there too which may have contributed to the strap failure.

Huh, I would have never seen that as a possibility. I would have come back even more confused. The other parts look pretty old, was surprised this one people so who knows what condition I’ll find. Thanks for the heads up