Alternator belt

[Mudd]

Do I have to remove the air box to get to the top bolt on the alternator to tighten the belt, or can it be done completely from below.

[Gawernator]

I remember removing the airbox, it's simpler sometimes to just move stuff out of the way instead of struggling with wrench acrobatics lol

[CHICKS]

It's done from below. No need to remove air box.

[mytrplseven]

Yeah, pull the airflow pan on the bottom and do it all from below.

[Mudd]

Do I have to loosen the top nut from below.

[Ga 951]

On the 944, you adjust the belt with a turnbuckle, no need to loosen the top bolt.

[968 GUY]

if the pivot bolts are not loosened, there is a chance for the mounting points to break.
that goes for the turnbuckle and A/C compressor. if you have an A/C compressor, loosen both the front and rearbolts, as wellas the turnbuckle mounting bolts. adjust then torque to spechs.
if no A/C , not sure.

[Volhv]

If no AC, no need to loosen alternator mounting bolt.
There is only one, and it allows the alternator to pivot freely.

[mytrplseven]

I've done this many times and IMHO if you want to use a "TIGHT" upper bolt on the alternator as a pivot, good luck. I know that there are cases where the upper bolt isn't as tight as would be per spec and the alternator can be adjusted with the turnbuckle. However, it has been my experience on this and many other cars, that all the bolts should be loosened slightly to allow adjustment and the re-tightenend to specs. I've been able to loosen the upper Alternator bolt from below to allow adjustment of the belt. With an A/C car, the bolts for the A/C compressor should be loosened since that's easier to get to and you don't have to touch the alternator.

[Volhv]

mytrplseven is right. Failure to loosen mounting bolts will result in either, tensioning rod failure, or bolt failure. How many more times can I say failure.

But....

I have a late alternator, with an factory ac delete bracket. This setup forms a clevis, therefore it should be a slip fit. If the mounting bolt is over torqued until the alternator can no longer pivot, what one is essentially doing is stressing the alternator ears/tabs, and bending them inward. While that might not necessarily be enough to cause a failure, it's still a poor practice. I've heard that early alternators are a bit tighter between the ears. Maybe that's what caused the phenomenon mytrplseven has observed.

[Mudd]

So I do have to loosen the AC bolts which I can do from below. That makes sense.

Thanks