Alternator Adjustment Bolt

They did use a regular no flange bolt. GM didn’t waste money. They used a washer so a flange was not necessary. They did have an indented head. Brett’s picture is my GSX. That bolt came off an old lady brown 4 door 70 Skylark in a junkyard. Same car I got a short 70 style heater hose bracket for 5 bucks. What a steal. I know where a couple more may be sitting in junkyards but not sure when I can get there again? I believe that is the only place in the entire car that bolt is used so it’s no wonder no one can find one. If the alternator was changed there is a good chance that bolt was lost.

 

Brett,

Of the 5 bolts in the 1st. pic. it appears three are correct & two are not. 2nd. from the left & the last one on the right are NOT.

This is what I deem to be correct , BUT from memory. If memory serves they were a grade 5 bolt.

Tom T.

 

Look at picture Brett posted. That’s it.

 

I wanted to make sure that bolt didn't have a floating flat washer on it. You can't tell in the pic.

 

None of them are correct.

 

Here is the correct type. This is 3/8” however. This is a front sway bar bracket screw. Indented head, no loose washer or flange.

 

If the length is correct. Trash the lock washer and now bolt may stick out too much.

 

My info shows that as a 1 1/4" bolt, it should be 1".

 

The finish doesn't seem correct either.

 

That's true, also. But that can be changed with chemicals easily. I'm sorry all you guys don't have the right bolts!

 

Frank, Can you share about surface finish mods? I'd really like to learn more about re-finishing OEM bolts and hardware.

 

Mike, I don't want to stray real far, because it's Brett's thread. But, because some peeps may buy that bolt and be curious, here's the short story. There are different chemicals that can darken bolts and screws. Different finishes react in different ways. Galvanized, steel, zinc, stainless, copper...they will all change with chemicals. If you look at that bolt, it looks zinc plated. You may have to strip the zinc before you can dye it. It depends how dark you want it. You can get most of the chemicals at Lowes or a place like that. There's a lot of info on the net. Here's a primer...

 

GM liked using zinc on electrical parts for grounding purposes. Zinc is better than black phosphate. That alternator bolt could have been zinc. The lower alternator bolt on a non AC car that held the negative battery cable was zinc. That is the one with the Star washer, horn screws, voltage regulator screws, ground strap bolt on back of passenger side head are all zinc. Can someone measure the distance on a car from the back of the alternator arm to where bolt just shows coming out of alternator. This will give us correct bolt undergrad length.

 

Almost all bolts used on our cars were black/ gray phosphate or zinc. A few may have been silver cad and a very few gold. Gold mostly interior like seat stud nuts and seatbelt anchors. Best way is examine every screw you take off.

 

Well...I've got like 4 of them I'll sell at Biker Fox blowout prices of $899.00 + 29.99 shipping costs. I'll throw in the washer, too.

 

Sold American!

 

Just Kidding.

 

This is the we are not having enough fun in bed thread. ... or Back Seat ....or something.