Cruising the Coast and Steve helped save the day

[gordyzx9r]

So, I went to Cruising the Coast on Saturday to meet up with some other Turbo Regal owners.  A friend of mine had recently relocated there so we met up at his place and there were about 7 others that showed up as well.  Great time, and got to meet some awesome folks.  Went for a ride in a 9 second stage 2 car and almost snapped my neck...wow, that thing really pulled.

And Steve saved my butt from having to spend all day researching the forums...
 
 Just as I'm nearing the exit my fiancé calls and asks me how the car is running.  She knew that I had been chasing some bugs and had installed a new alternator, pulley for the tensioner, and a new belt.  No sooner had I said that she was running great, the dummy light for the voltage illuminated and the scanmaster showed a drop from 15V to 11V.  And there was a very noticeable whine.  I was only a few miles away from where I needed to meet everyone and made it with no problem.  One of the guys had an alternator that he had just changed out and offered it to me to use but we weren't 100% it would make the trip home so we decided to look around first at the auto parts stores...and given that this was Cruising the Coast and there were 1,000s of cars in town I was not feeling lucky they'd have one.  And of course they didn't...but then I remembered some threads about how an alternator from a '95-'96 Impala would fit, got in touch with Steve via FB messenger to confirm.  Thanks Steve.  It bolted right in except for the bolt on the rear near the valve cover and the stud/pole is a bit bigger so we had to do a little filing on the connections to widen 'em up.  The guys there were awesome and had it changed out in minutes.  I had bought the alternator that failed from Kirbans and I spoke with him today and it's warrantied so I'll probably put that one in and keep the Impala alternator as a backup. 
 

[good2win22]

Pics look great!  I bet that was some good times.  That Steve fella comes in handy every once in a while... LOL!

[Steve Wood]

Glad you got home.  As I said, the Impala alternator is revised edition of the one that came on our cars.  It is made better and should last longer.  It's a 140 amp version that puts about 40-50 amps more at idle if you have electric fans, stereo, or anything else that pulls more load.  It's my preferred alternator for the cars.

[gordyzx9r]

So, what about that bolt in the back by the valve cover?  Not needed?

I also noticed a change on the belt tensioner. 

With the alternator I got from Kirbans that was a direct bolt in, the tensioner lined up almost perfectly (meaning the line on the left was aligned with the line that separates the small square section and large rectangular section on the right side).  With the Impala alternator the line on the  left is in the middle of the large rectangular section.

[Steve Wood]

Seems like there was a brace from the accessory bracket to the alternator from the factory..I might be thinking of another car tho.  I don't recall having one on any of my cars in the past 25 years so I am not sure.

Never saw a Kirbans tensioner

[good2win22]

Steve is absolutely correct.  There is a brace that bolts to the stud off the header and then up to the back of the alternator

[gordyzx9r]

Not a kirbans tensioner, I meant the alternator that I bought form kirbans.  They sell a replica of a stock turbo regal alternator that bolts up/wires up just like a stock one.  On the impala alternator, the bolt hole on the back does not align with the bracket (see pic).  Is it alright to drive like that?  It's not needed for support?

[TexasT]

Who put the bolt hole way over there?

[Steve Wood]

I have not seen that brace on one in years, but I don't get out much!

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[Steve Wood]

What happens if you clock the case as I suggested the other day. Looks like that might put the hole in the  right place

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[Top Speed]

Nice pics, glad you got your car fixed.  I hate electrical issues.

[TurboCajun]

it was a pleasure meeting you Gordy. I also had the pleasure of taking a ride in Scott's car, what a blast.

[Be4u]

Gordy, did you meet a guy named rex? I haven't participated in CTC  in several years. I got burnt out. I used to spend the whole week, all day on hwy 90.