Alternator swap. Easy, right?

[pwd72s]

Rainman Ray...'bout an hour. Ford design engineers must hate mechanics!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7hxfwmRLGM&ab_channel=RainmanRay%27sRepairs

[masraum]

Embed of the video above.


I've seen some that were just going to be a beyotch. I haven't watched your video, but I think the winner is the (I think Ford) product that has the starter in the V under the intake manifold.

[wdfifteen]

I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing is ever easy. I just did a little wiring job that should have taken 20 minutes.. it took an hour and a half.

I have a friend who owned a Cougar with a 428 in it. We had to take the left motor mount loose and jack up the engine to get to the rear spark plug. And this was when you gave the car a tune-up every 3000 miles (or so, maybe it was a longer interval).

[Bugsinrugs]

I love his attitude. Really well done video. I bought my Tundra after inspecting the engine compartment for parts access. After dealing with Ford design I chose my Toyota.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bugsinrugs

I love his attitude. Really well done video. I bought my Tundra after inspecting the engine compartment for parts access. After dealing with Ford design I chose my Toyota.

I have always done the same, especially when I was younger buying cars that were well used, look under the hood and look at access to things like starter, alternator, water pump, plugs, oil filter, etc.... There was a time when I was really poor that I'd also find prices for that sort of thing. These days, I'm a little less concerned, and generally buy vehicles with very low miles, but it's always a bit of a consideration. For instance, I would probably not purchase a vehicle where the starter was under the intake in the "V" of the cylinders.

[Arizona_928]

I’ve heard the new p cars require a trans drop to replace the starter

[stevej37]

An alternator swap in our old 911's isn't exactly an easy job!

[masraum]

Originally Posted by stevej37

An alternator swap in our old 911's isn't exactly an easy job!

Meh, it wasn't that bad. Mostly just the bolts holding the big strap that holds the fan shrowd in place. At least it's front and center as far as access goes.

[stevej37]

Originally Posted by masraum

Meh, it wasn't that bad. Mostly just the bolts holding the big strap that holds the fan shrowd in place. At least it's front and center as far as access goes.

That part is easy. It's getting your hands behind the thing to work on the wire connections and the air vane that are a b*itch.
My hands are normal size and it was still not easy.....I've done two of them.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by masraum

I've seen some that were just going to be a beyotch. I haven't watched your video, but I think the winner is the (I think Ford) product that has the starter in the V under the intake manifold.

Watch the video. It's insane.

Toyota 4.7 V8's have starters under the intake and that job would be a breath of fresh air compared to OP's link.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I have a friend who owned a Cougar with a 428 in it. We had to take the left motor mount loose and jack up the engine to get to the rear spark plug. And this was when you gave the car a tune-up every 3000 miles (or so, maybe it was a longer interval).

Same thing with the 390 in the Mustang GT. It fits, barely.


If you ever saw the engine compartment of a Hemi Dart, you would think that Cougar had lots of room

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Tobra

If you ever saw the engine compartment of a Hemi Dart, you would think that Cougar had lots of room

+1 Only 80 of them left the factory. The engine almost touches the ground. Plugs would be ok to change though. :-)



https://www.hotcars.com/1960s-dodge-super-stock-hemi-dart-banned-from-racing/

Arlen Vanke from Akron won the 1968 NHRA Super Stock National beating among others Don Garlits. He may have had one of the Darts.

Here is the restored winning car doing a little test run in SC. Car can't shift into second but still sounds incredible. Watch first ten seconds and then skip to 50 seconds in. Worth it.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Watch the video. It's insane.

Toyota 4.7 V8's have starters under the intake and that job would be a breath of fresh air compared to OP's link.

Bingo! How Ray remained so positive during that episode is beyond me. Probably knowing the video was there to back him up if there was a complaint over the bill?
I have no idea what Ford design engineers were thinking of to make a replacement part so difficult to get to. The DIYer who has a decent amount of tools, but limited to jackstands and floor jack wouldn't have a prayer...

He's in Sarasota, Fla. If I lived there, he'd be my go to guy...

(edit) Loved that Hemi Cuda...the sound alone...

[aschen]

I used to watch him regularly hadnt in a while, you can tell he is an all around good guy.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Watch the video. It's insane.

Toyota 4.7 V8's have starters under the intake and that job would be a breath of fresh air compared to OP's link.

Yeah, I'll be watching it later.

I have had a 1965 Impala w/SBC. It had a lot of space in the engine compartment.

But not as much space as the '69 Buick Riviera that I had.
Not mine but representative
I think there was 8" between the back of the motor and the firewall, so you could get to all of the bell-housing bolts from the engine bay. There is plenty of space on the sides, and at least a foot of space in front of the motor.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by stevej37

That part is easy. It's getting your hands behind the thing to work on the wire connections and the air vane that are a b*itch.
My hands are normal size and it was still not easy.....I've done two of them.

My car and both of my son's cars now sport a foot of extra wire spliced into every wire that attaches to the back of the alternator. Just coil them up and zip tie them when reinstalling the alternator. Makes this job so much easier.

[stevej37]

^^^ Yeah...I thought about doing that, but at 125K miles I was thinking I would never have to do it again.

[porsche930dude]

Back in the day people warned not to buy a 300zx or 3000gt for access reasons. Now they are not so bad.

[masraum]

I'm about 20 mins in. As soon as I got to the part about partial removal of front suspension and one transaxle, I'd be taking that sumbich to a mechanic so someone like this guy could deal with it.

"Oh, your alternators dead, and needs to be replaced? Well, we recommend as a 'while-you're-in-there' that you replace the wheel bearings & seals, front brakes, half shafts, bushings, ball joints, and struts."
Alternator only will be $2000
Alternator plus the rest will be $2500
LOL

Damn, got the front suspension off, and the alternator loose with cables disconnected. "The manual says the alternator's supposed to go through this hole. I don't see that as being realistic."

Very impressive. There hasn't been any cussing that I've heard. Either he's the dalai lama or really great at editing. I'm pretty sure I'd be cussing up a storm.

[masraum]

I can't believe that I've watched most of this video. I watched the first couple of mins, and then skipped about 10 mins, but have watched most of the rest. He's buttoning everything up, putting the inner fender liner back in, and is then going to check the battery and charging system.

Can you imagine getting this all back together, starting the car, and then discovering that the new/reman alternator was bad/not charging and realizing that you had to pull it all back apart and do it all over again?