Question about single pulley conversion on '95 engine - possibly a cheap mod?!

[PcarPhil]

Hey guys,

I'm in the process of installing a single pulley conversion on my '95 3.6 engine. I've got the crank pulley already installed (a PMS pulley) and am getting ready to pull the alternator to install the new hub.

I started looking at the OEM hub and started wondering something....could I just put a few tack welds the OEM hub, which would lock the bearing in place? This would essentially do the same thing as installing a RS hub.

Have any of you done this before? Is this a good/bad idea?

I'm not sure either way that's why I'm asking. Perhaps this is an affordable way to go to a single pulley (and also having to go through the trouble of pulling the fan/alternator to install the RS hub)?

Here's a shot of the crank pulley:


The RS hub that needs to be installed on the alternator/fan shaft:


A pic of what I'm thinking about. The red dots would be tack welds that weld the bearing together. This would eliminate having to use the RS hub above.


And for those of you who may be interested a few more pics of the engine as I get it prepped to install in my '77 chassis:






Thanks for the help!

[sc_rufctr]

I'm going to sound like your mother but...

Pull the alternator and do it properly!

If you weld over the bearings you could distort something (bearing on shaft) or damage the alternator.
Also... It may cause the inside bearing shell to spin on the shaft causing further damage...

It's just not worth it.

[sc_rufctr]

Nice engine by the way...

Your 77 will be a real sleeper with that installed!

[rattlsnak]

i made mine. i went to a local welding shop and they gave me a piece of hollow aluminum stock about 2" long and 2" ID and 3"OD round. i simply drilled three holes that match the three holes on the inner pulley, slipped it over the alt shaft, installed the three bolts and tightned the nut in the back. worked perfectly and at $0 cost..!

[Buckterrier]

Hey Scott, glad to see you are installing the 3.6. I went with the RS setup really cleans up the front of the motor. Finally got mine back, she's a rocket ship now! Good luck on the install. Oh and when you remove the alternator, give the fan and shroud a nice paint job!

[Mahler9th]

Hmmm, cannot answer the direct question, but can provide some food for thought. I have a 3.8 engine with 993 intake system. Single plugged. I believe the same pulley as yours. The chassis is a '75. I don't need a ginormous 993 alternator/fan set up. I run a lighter 70's 911 alternator fan set up.

Saves some weight, simple to do.

Not the greatest picture but...

[ischmitz]

The downside is that the stock bearing so tight on the alternator shaft it is almost a press-fit. It it's an absolute PITA to get it off. The RS hub are is really easy to get off. It makes changing the fan belt a breeze. For that reason alone I wouldn't use a welded stock bearing.

Ingo

[Green 912]

Scott I posted this on the local board but figured the pelicans might want to pick at it too.

I took a nut (3/4 IIRC) that slipped over the shaft after slight filing of the threads and welded a large (IIRC also 3/4) flat washer to it. I drilled 3 holes in the the washer and made 3 pothole welds between the washer and nut after belt sanding the coating off the nut face where the welds would be. After welding I ran the washer flat on a belt sander to make the pothole welds flat. I then measured and filed 3 notches in the edge of the washer for the 3 cap head bolts on the pulley.

Under a buck in parts and about 20 min time spent.